A Bear Crashed Their Camping Trip: What Happened and How to Stay Safe

The Night a Black Bear Visited Their Tent

On Sunday, July 5, two friends named Maggie Bassett and Shonna Dehl were camping in the Big Horn Mountains of Wyoming. While they were sleeping in their tents, a black bear attacked the tents!

“It wanted in the tents,” Dehl told KTVQ News. “That’s all it wanted. It didn’t matter what we did.”

How They Tried to Scare the Bear Away

The women did everything they could think of to make the bear go away:

• They yelled and screamed.
• They fired gunshots at the bear (a “bruin” is just a fun word for bear).
• But nothing seemed to work at first!

Bassett said: “It didn’t even blink. It just kind of circled around and came back at me from a different angle.”

After a few more gunshots, the bear finally ran off. This gave the two women a chance to escape to their car.

What They Did Next

1. They got to their vehicle safely.
2. They stayed inside and honked the horn at the bear for a few more hours.
3. They drove away to Dehl’s nearby family cabin.

Bassett shared a scary memory: “I will never forget that sound of my tent being ripped open.”

They Did Everything Right—But the Bear Came Anyway

Amazingly, both women got out without any injuries. This was a close call with what seems to be a food-conditioned bear (we’ll explain that soon).

The women had followed the usual bear-safety rules:

• They used special bear containers (strong boxes that keep food away from bears).
• They kept a clean camp (no messy food scraps lying around).
• They packed away all food and drinks.
• They kept nothing edible inside their tents.

Dehl wrote on Facebook:

“We took all the precautions to pack up all food and drinks and nothing in our tents, but the bear went straight for us and our tents. We had to abandon camp in the middle of the night but the bear still came back and completely destroyed our tents.”

Important Point: Even when you do everything correctly, a bear that has lost its fear of people can still cause trouble.

What Is a “Food-Conditioned” Bear?

According to the National Park Service, a food-conditioned bear is one that has learned to look for people and their stuff to find food rewards (like a tasty snack left behind).

• It’s likely this bear had gotten human food at that spot before, so it wasn’t afraid to walk right up.
• Once a bear loses its natural fear of humans, it will probably keep looking for unnatural food sources and get into more trouble.

What Happens to the Bear Now?

The Wyoming Game and Fish Department has been told about the incident. Their plan is to:

1. Trap the bear.
2. Relocate it (move it to a new, different area).

Should You Still Go Camping in Bear Country?

The answer is yes! Even though this story shows that a bad encounter can happen even if you follow the rules, that doesn’t mean you should avoid the outdoors.

Remember: Always practice smart bear safety when visiting wild places.

Here are some tips from the experts:

• Store your food safely (use bear containers or other approved methods).
• Carry bear spray, a pistol, or both for protection.
• Stay aware of signs that bears have been around (like tracks or scratched trees).

Summary

• Maggie Bassett and Shonna Dehl were camping in Wyoming on July 5 when a black bear attacked their tents.
• They yelled, screamed, and shot at it, but it kept coming back until it finally left.
• They escaped unharmed to their car and then a nearby cabin.
• They had followed all bear-safety rules, but the bear was likely “food-conditioned” (used to getting food from people).
• Such bears lose their natural fear and seek human food, which leads to problems.
• Wildlife officials will trap and move the bear.
• You can still enjoy bear country by being prepared and careful.

FAQ

Q1: What does “food-conditioned bear” mean in simple terms?
A: It’s a bear that has learned that people often have yummy food, so it goes looking near humans instead of being scared of them.

Q2: Did the women do something wrong that attracted the bear?
A: No! They did everything right—no food in tents, used bear containers, clean camp. The bear was probably already taught by past experiences that people = food.

Q3: What should I do if a bear comes to my tent?
A: Make loud noises, try to scare it off, and if you have protection like bear spray or a gun, use it if it’s safe. Get to safety (like a car) as soon as you can.

Q4: Will the bear be hurt when they relocate it?
A: The plan is to trap and move it to a new place, not to harm it. But a bear that keeps seeking people may face bigger problems later.

Q5: Is it safe to camp where bears live?
A: Yes, if you follow safety steps: store food properly, carry defense tools, and stay aware. Bad encounters are rare, but being ready is key.

(Feature image of destroyed tents via Shonna Dehl’s Facebook.)