Hungry bear forces shutdown of campground

MARBLEMOUNT, Wash. -- Bear activity in the North Cascades National Park has forced the shutdown of a Tumwater campground.

A hungry bear broke into a garbage can in the campground on Monday and received a substantial food "reward," the National Park Service reported. Officials were forced to remove the garbage can and shut down the campground until further notice.

Park officials are concerned that the bear is expected to return repeatedly to the campground to look for anything else that might be edible. The Park Service said that experience has shown that a campground closure of two to three weeks is sufficient to convince bears that there are no more "rewards." and the bears then typically move on.

Tumwater campground will be closed from June 18 - July 3 and officials will continue to monitor the area.