This black bear (its coat is a lighter color, common to bears in Hells Canyon) was hanging around the Pittsburg Campground, on the Idaho side of the canyon, for several months earlier in 2023. The Forest Service banned visitors from bringing or storing food in the area to discourage the bear. The animal hasn’t been seen in the area for several weeks, and the Forest Service canceled the food ban on Nov. 14.

JOSEPH — The Wallowa-Whitman National Forest has rescinded an order prohibiting visitors from storing food at and near a campground in Hells Canyon where a bear had been loitering this summer, apparently lured by the potential to pilfer food from campers.

The food prohibition order at Pittsburg Landing, on the Idaho side of the Snake River, took effect July 24. Wallowa-Whitman officials canceled it Nov. 14.

There haven’t been any reported sightings of the bear for the past several weeks, according to a press release from the Wallowa-Whitman.

The campground was closed from June 28 to July 14 after visitors reported that the bear came close to them.