Bears are waking up – we should too!

March 25th, 2011

Spring black bear

Bears are waking up–we should too!

Spring has arrived in western Montana, and both black bears and grizzlies are waking up around the state. If you share habitat with bears, they may be awake in your neck of the woods too.

Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks has reported a black bear in the Rattlesnake Valley of Missoula, hitting garbage cans and even breaking into garages. Grizzlies and their sign have been reported in Montana’s Blackfoot Valley, and by the Confederated Salish & Kootenai Tribes on the Flathead Reservation–including a female with a cub. Black bears are awake in Alberton, MT. Snow is melting off at lower elevations, and bears are coming down to the valleys in search of food. This brings them into more contact with humans and our residential areas.

Please take this opportunity to walk around your residence and make sure there is nothing around your home that may attract bears. This includes garbage, compost, bird seed (time to take down those bird feeders and clean up spilled seed and hulls!), pet and livestock feed, smokers, fish racks, barbecues, and even petroleum products.

Securing bear attractants can save the life of a bear, save you costly property damage, and save both bears and humans the stress of an unwanted encounter.

Now that the weather is getting warmer, remember to take bear spray when hiking in bear country, keep your awareness up for bear sign, and make plenty of noise to avoid surprise encounters!

For more information on bear safety, securing bear attractants, or the work we do on behalf of the bears, contact the Great Bear Foundation.

Thank you, and be bear aware.

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