Descriptor:
Using fine arts and language arts skills and science knowledge, students will create a bear logo and slogan (perhaps the next famous bear) as an educational tool in an effort to further decrease the number and severity of bear-inflicted human injuries.

Objectives:
The student will . . .

• Discuss the importance of using logos and slogans in delivering memorable messages.

• Research bear attacks/safety/management.

• Create a logo/slogan on a poster (or other medium) that poses and solves a problem--bear-inflicted human injuries caused by bears in the backcountry.

Background
Prior to 1977, roadside feeding of black bears was responsible for the high number of black bear-inflicted human injuries. Public education efforts and effective enforcement of regulations has virtually eliminated bear-inflicted injuries along roadsides and must remain a permanent component of future bear management programs at Yellowstone National Park.

Research strongly suggests that the presence of food-conditioned bears, combined with the availability of human foods in park campgrounds, led to most inflicted human injuries in developed areas. Public education programs and strict enforcement of sanitation regulations have significantly reduced the number of bear-inflicted human injuries occurring in campgrounds and in developed areas. Public education and information programs designed to prevent bears from obtaining human foods and garbage must remain a permanent bear management priority within Yellowstone National Park.

Despite the success of the 1970 bear management program in reducing the number of bear-inflicted injuries, an average of one bear-inflicted injury per year still occurs. The injuries most often involve surprise encounters between backcountry hikers and female grizzly bears with young. It will be difficult to reduce the frequency of this type of injury, especially if backcountry recreational activity and grizzly bear populations in Yellowstone National Park both continue to increase. Public education programs that inform hikers on how to avoid surprise encounters, and how to react to encounters and attacks once they occur, may be the most useful tool in further decreasing the number and severity of bear-inflicted human injuries occurring in the park.

Source: Yellowstone Science. Volume 4, Number 1. The Why's and Where's of Bear Attacks by Kerry Gunther and Hopi Hoeskstra.

Procedure
Following the Electronic Field Trip, the teacher will . . .

• Read aloud the background section of this lesson.

• Provide an opportunity to research bear attacks, bear safety, and bear management polices.

• Lead a discussion about the importance of education as a tool to prevent injuries and deaths.

• Facilitate a discussion about how agencies/companies/organizations often create logos and slogans to communicate clear and memorable messages. Take, for example, Smokey Bear and his message "Only You Can Prevent Forrest Fires!" For half a century Smokey's posters, bumper stickers, t-shirts, etc. live on! (Of course, we now know that Smokey was talking about fires started by human carelessness, not those started by nature!)

• Invite the students to create a logo/slogan, individually or within groups, to explain to backcountry hikers in Yellowstone National Park how they might avoid surprise bear encounters, and how they should react to encounters/attacks once they occur.

Extension
There is Smokey and there is Yogi! Perhaps one of your students will come up with the next famous bear--a bear that may save lives in the backcountry. You may send student-created logos and slogans to: National Park Service, ATT: Education Office, PO Box 168, Yellowstone National Park WY 82190. (Note: Before using any materials sent to us, we would obtain permission from the student and his/her parents. This activity is not a contest, and no awards are being offered.)

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