Bad bear causes closures in Trinity area

An aggressive, wounded bear has triggered a closure to the public in some of the trails in the Trinity Mountain area.

The Rainbow Basin area, near Trinity Mountain on the Mountain Home Ranger District of the Boise National Forest will be temporarily closed immediately due to an aggressive and injured black bear in that area.

The closure began, Aug. 2, due to the concern with public safety

The closure affects the main trail leading from Big Trinity Lake (National Forest Trail 174) and trails that branch off of this main trail. In addition, National Forest System Road 129A which leads to Trinity Mountain Lookout is closed. Access points to the closed area will be posted and signed.

The bear was reported to Idaho Department of Fish and Game Aug. 1 as acting aggressively and subsequently it was wounded by campers when it approached them.

IDFG attempted to track the blood trail, but it disappeared.

Bear scat in the area was located with candy wrappers in it, and it appears to have become accustomed to humans.

The campgrounds in the Trinity Mountain area will remain open. The public is being asked to report any sightings of the bear to Idaho Department of Fish and Game, or the Mountain Home Ranger District. The Rainbow Basin is about 35 miles north of Mountain Home.

Further information is available by contacting the Mountain Home Ranger District at 587-7961 or Idaho Department of Fish and Game at 860-0582.