Hancock Campground closed until at least Aug. 25

Hancock Campground closed until at least Aug. 25

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Hancock Campground closed until at least Aug. 25

The U.S. Forest Service has issued a closure order for the Hancock Campground in Lincoln because of an increase in bear activity.

The campground will be temporarily closed until at least Aug. 25.

Employees at the White Mountains headquarters said campers will have to leave by noon Thursday.

For John Robillard, Hancock Campground is a special place where he has been camping for over 50 years. In that time, he's never seen this site shut down.

"Upsetting. It's a vacation. You never want to see a vacation end and being up here, I never want to leave. It's just very hard for me to leave a day early," Robillard said. "It's the first time we've ever been forced to leave by a bear."

Another frequent camper, Francis Derosier, said he's seen about three bears during his time at Hancock, and one got a little too close five years ago.

"I see this bear walking right aside of my table. He came right out to the road, looked back at me and just kept walking up the road here," Derosier said.

Even with some close encounters, both Derosier and Robillard know the danger of camping in bear country, but they said they feel safe.

"I feel okay. It's kind of a thrill to see them too," Derosier said.

A business owner in the area tells News 9 they were shocked that the campground is being closed, and said bears used to always come to a dumpster they used to have outside.

Campers and hikers can avoid conflicts with bears by maintaining a clean campsite and storing food and garbage properly, officials said.

There are nearly 5,000 black bears in New Hampshire. The last time someone died from a black bear attack in New Hampshire was in 1784. However, New Hampshire Fish and Game says that they are still unpredictable and are considered dangerous.

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