One important source of late summer and fall bear food, wild chokecherries, had a “poor” crop this year, which could put bears in bind, Neal said. There has also been longstanding concern over the loss of whitebark pine, mostly due to trees being killed by pine beetle infestations. Black Bears EverywhereIt’s been a busy year for black bears in Wyoming, Thompson said. Game and Fish emphasises public education and outreach to help prevent bears from becoming conditioned to human-provided food sources, he said. “Bears are the epitome of adaptability and will find ways to put on fat, even in years where some food sources are scarce,” Thompson said.