Concerns about potential bear incidents have prompted Gallatin National Forest officials to allow only hard-sided campers in three Cooke City-area campgrounds, including one where a rampaging bear killed a man last summer.

The three campgrounds are the Soda Butte, Colter and Chief Joseph campgrounds just east of Cooke City, along the Beartooth Highway. Last summer Kevin Kammer was killed with a bear in the Soda Butte campground, dragged from his tent in the middle of the night.

Officials are erring on the side of caution in banning tent camping. Only hard-sided campers made from metal or strong composite plastic will be allowed; pop-up campers are prohibited as well. The restriction will last this entire summer season.

The ban comes when the managers of six national forests surrounding Yellowstone National Park are evaluating management options to prevent grizzly-human incidents. To the best of our knowledge these are the only three campgrounds in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem to have restrictions on tent camping.

The attacking grizzly was put down after her capture last summer. Her cubs were relocated to Zoo Montana in Billings.

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