JACKSON - Wildlife managers are baffled this year as to why people are not getting the message to put food and bear attractants away and secure, so fewer bears need to be relocated or killed.

This year in and around Jackson, ten black bears have been killed because of food habituation problems. Two orphaned cubs were taken to a zoo facility, and one died after being darted for relocation when it fell out of a tree.

The last bears killed were in Teton Village and Game Creek near Jackson Saturday morning.

Before Saturday, the last bear killed was a 6-year-old female who repeatedly showed bold behavior to get food rewards near Colter Bay.

"We're at a loss as to why people do not take seriously the warnings and the educational information that we're putting out there," said Jackie Skaggs, spokeswoman for Grand Teton.

This year, park rangers have issued 43 warnings and 63 citations for food storage violations. Skaggs did not have exact numbers for past years, but said this year's numbers are "way up."

In Teton County, Wyoming Game and Fish Department officials are noting a similar problem. Mark Gocke, spokesman for Game and Fish, said in the last five years, there have been 152 conflicts with bears - defined as incidents of property damage or injury to a person or bear. That number will be reached this year alone.

A black bear was killed Aug. 27 in Teton Village after it had repeatedly gotten into garbage. Gocke said the bear had a history of problems and even had food wrappers in its scat.

"There was no doubt this bear was habituated," he said.

Gocke said this year is "very busy," and there has only been one other year where the agency has removed nine bears. That was in the last five years, when it was also a dry year.

People are not getting the message to secure their garbage and put bird feeders away, he said.

"People still are not taking care of attractants," he said. "I don't know why. You would think in a year like this - we've gotten a lot of press on this issue - you would think people would be getting it. But they're not, still. It's really frustrating, because it's not that difficult to take care of your garbage and keep those bird feeders out of reach. If there was every a year to do it right and be vigilant, this is it."

Gocke said residents mainly have "gotten the message," and it's likely vacationers or part-time residents who are not doing what they can to prevent bears from becoming food habituated.

There are more bears in subdivisions, particularly on Jackson's west bank, and bears are now gearing up to put on fat for hibernation.

"If there's anything out, they're going to find it," Gocke said. "They're going to be searching out things intently. Between now and when they go into hibernation, it's going to be imperative that we as a community own up to this problem and keep garbage" away from bears.

That means putting cans out an hour before pickup. People can also get bear-proof garbage cans from the Jackson Hole Wildlife Foundation by calling 739-0968 or e-mailing info@jhwildlife.org.

The equipment must be used properly. Gocke said he has seen bear-proof garbage cans overfilled so they don't latch, rendering them useless.

Environmental reporter Whitney Royster can be reached at (307) 734-0260 or at royster@tribcsp.com.