Aggressive Bears Prompt Campground Closure Near North Bend

NORTH BEND, WA — A popular summer campground is closed for the rest of the season after park rangers flagged increasingly frequent, and sometimes aggressive, encounters between bears and visitors.

According to The Seattle Times, the U.S. Forest Service opted to close the Middle Fork Campground northeast of North Bend after several bear-related conflicts, including one that charged at a man and destroyed his tent last month.

The district ranger for Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest told the newspaper that campers often failed to properly seal and secure their food throughout the summer, and bears in the area soon became too comfortable around people.

As FOX 13 reports, Middle Fork and the surrounding area fully closed for camping Monday, but daytime activities like hiking and fishing are still permitted. Over the next few weeks, rangers will place steel, bear-proof bins at each of the nearly three three dozen campsites to decrease the chance of conflict when campers are able to return.