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It’s Fat Bear Week, when the internet turns its attention to some of Alaska’s chunkiest bears. But what about the bears in our own backyard?

• Does Utah even have bears? Yes, black bears! They typically stick to high-elevation forests, but severe drought and extreme weather have pushed more of them into the valley in search of food. As of August, the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources has responded to 168 bear incidents this year, more than double the amount in 2025. [Utah Division of Wildlife Resources]
• A baby bear was spotted in the Avenues this week. Residents first reported the cub moving west through the neighborhood Tuesday. On Wednesday evening, it climbed a tree, and DWR biologists tranquilized it around 9:30 p.m. It’s now being held by wildlife officials for a health assessment before deciding what comes next. [KUTV]
• If you encounter a bear: Don’t run or try to climb a tree; instead, stay calm and stand your ground. If it attacks, fight back with whatever you have available. Bears are even more active in the fall as they hunt for food and prepare for hibernation. [Utah Division of Wildlife Resources, National Park Service]
• We may not have fat bears, but we have fat birds: Grow the Flow Utah is putting a Great Salt Lake spin on the unofficial holiday with Fat Bird Week, highlighting the migratory birds that gorge themselves around the lake before continuing their journeys. You can vote for your favorite on their Instagram stories through Sept. 30. [Instagram]

A Pricier Bus Ride

Riding public transportation could cost 20% more as the Utah Transit Authority weighs a $3 standard fare for buses, TRAX, FrontRunner, and UTA on Demand to help cover rising operating costs. A decision is expected in early 2027. [Axios Salt Lake City]

Garth Goes for Four

Country singer Garth Brooks added a fourth Salt Lake City show after huge demand and a little bot drama complicated ticket sales for the first three concerts. He’ll play at the Delta Center Oct. 8-11. [KUTV]

Data Centers in Carbon County

Two massive data centers are planned near Wellington in central Utah, in an area hit hard by coal’s decline, including one powered by natural gas and another by an experimental small modular nuclear reactor. [Salt Lake Tribune]

Utah's Oversight Problem

A new audit shows the Governor's Office of Economic Development gave away millions of dollars without tracking how it was being used. But there seems to be a pattern in Utah's lack of oversight. We connect the dots on today's podcast. [City Cast Salt Lake 🎧]