7/27/09 Lake Billy Chinook
 
UPDATE: Perry South Campground re-opens
 
Sisters Ranger District–With trash removed and dumpster lids secured, the fish cleaning station cleaned up, and no sign of the bears for several days, Perry South Campground is ready to re-open to the public today.
 
Two adult bears and one cub were frequenting the campground earlier this month. For public safety, the campground was closed July 17th, and work began to make the campground less attractive to the bears.
 
Garbage dumpsters are in place with cables to secure the lids until the new bear-proof trash cans arrive. Fire pits were cleared of debris. A cleaning crew sanitized the fish cleaning station, fire rings and picnic tables with ammonia. According to the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, this practice helps to make the location unattractive to bears.
 
Information about bears and how to camp smartly in bear territory is posted in all the campgrounds in the Sisters Ranger District.
 
“It’s important for campers to keep their campsite clean and free of food and garbage that can attract bears,” says District Ranger Bill Anthony. “We apologize for the inconvenience of temporarily closing the campground, but public safety is our priority.”
 
7/17/09 Lake Billy Chinook
 
By Doug Johnson
 
After making a campsite their new home, three black bears have the US Forest Service on edge, prompting it to shut down the Perry South Campground on Lake Billy Chinook. Alex Berlin of Salem, who's seen dozens of black bears in the wild, says he's not worried.
 
"They just leave you alone, because they're more scared of people," Berlin says.
 
Still the forest service isn't taking any chances. It believes there are two adult bears, one weighing about two hundred pounds, and one cub. The Forest Service says that can be dangerous since bears can act aggressively towards humans when they feel their cub is threatened.
 
"They will keep coming back if people leave food out," says Berlin.
 
On the road to Perry South, the sign says open, but the campgrounds are temporarily closed while trash in the area is cleaned. The Forest Service will also replace old trash cans with new bear-proof trash cans and dumpsters, and sanitize tables and fish clean stations.
 
"As soon as the bears realize there's no real food or garbage there, they'll change their behavior and go away," says Bill Anthony, Sisters District ranger.
 
The Forest Service says making noise is the best way to scare off bears. If one sees you, don't run, as it can run faster than you. The Forest Service recommends backing off slowly, while avoiding eye contact. Believe it or not, the Forest Service says if one attacks you, as hard as it would be to do, just play dead.
 
"Bears can be very aggressive and if you fight back, they're going to fight harder," Anthony says.