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Bear Aware: How to Safely Handle a Bear Encounter in the Great Outdoors

Hammer67 said:
USFWS plays a big role for sure, since they oversee all listed Endangered Species, but it's the Interagency Grizzly Bear Committee (comprised of federal, state, and tribal members, along with the Yellowstone Ecosystem Subcommittee) that collectively have input on the program. LINK and another LINK



All of which was an easily predictable effect of letting the population continue to grow beyond identified targets. Grizz, and especially mature male grizz, have a large home range, and don't tolerate competition within it. As target numbers within the parks were reached a while ago, every additional young grizz that isn't replacing one who died, is being pushed out of the park. Neighboring mtn ranges like the Centennials, Winds, Palisades, Absorokas, etc. have significantly growing populations.

Personally, I think grizz are awesome and worthy of protecting in appropriate places, but they simply aren't compatible everywhere, and we are only seeing more and more problems. And yeah, I do have a problem with someone in San Francisco telling me that "I just need to learn how to live with grizz" in my backyard.



We've had them kill pigs on the farm behind our house.
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I used to work with and attend the IGBC Meetings in my former job.

I have spent some time in the Winds via Pinedale, & a little in the Palisades & Centennials. I know the areas where the dispersing bears are going into in WY and there's confirmed occupancy in the Bighorns now. Bears from the GYE are showing up in the the Pioneers, Beaverheads on the MT/ID state line and the Anaconda-Pintlers at the north end of the Big Hole Valley.

The NCDE bears are dispersing south of I-90 so individuals from both will meet up soon if they haven't already. Plus NCDE bears are east of the Rocky Mtn Front & also in the island ranges in d=central MT.

The bottom-line is both populations have exceeded their recovery goals, and need to be de-listed. Management should be turned over to the three states fish & game agencies. But as you say the enviros don't want that to happen for the obvious reasons.

But being in the woods in the Central and Northern Rockies isn't Disneyland and encounters always happen.
 
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Talyn said:
The bottom-line is both populations have exceeded their recovery goals, and need to be de-listed. Management should be turned over to the three states fish & game agencies. But as you say the enviros don't want that to happen for the obvious reasons.

But being in the woods in the Central and Northern Rockies isn't Disneyland and encounters always happen.
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Fully agreed on both counts. 👍
 
Bassbob said:
Always take someone else with you into bear country. Not someone you like that much though. And take a little .380 or .22 for defense. Will it stop a bear? Unlikely. But if your shoot your buddy in the knee it will give you time to get away.
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Thats like the common one where you tell your hunting partner that if you encounter a bear to run like h--l. When he says thats stupid because yu can't outrun a bear, thats when you tell him that you haven't got to outrun a bear, you only have to outrun him.
 
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Bear Aware Month continues with video about grizzly bears on the prairie​



HELENA – If you've traveled east of the Rocky Mountains in Montana, it might not scream "Griz Country." But don't let this prairie landscape fool you. There are grizzlies in this region and for the residents who live here they have some tools to avoid grizzly conflicts, one tool might be a little hairy. Special thanks to the Becker family with Stick Leg Ranch.

As part of Bear Aware Month, Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks is running a series of videos featuring bear aware content. For more details about Bear Aware Month, visit fwp.mt.gov/bear-aware.



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Bears In Montana | Montana FWP

All about bears in Montana.
fwp.mt.gov fwp.mt.gov
 
We live adjacent to a half million acre state forest. We have lots of black bears around here but rarely see them. They prefer to avoid us. People see them often south of here where there is a lot of development. I just can't understand why the bears are all of a sudden encroaching on human habitats like that.....
 
I saw pics of a dead black bear and destroyed tent. The guy showing the pics said he got him with his 9mm. Only a few scratches on him, sleeping bag was toast as well.
A friend who does security work in Alaska said he was chased around a dumpster by a polar bear. They are true man killers. He's of course, always armed.
 
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Hunter kills grizzly bear in encounter in Beattie Gulch​

GARDINER – A hunter killed a grizzly bear Tuesday in an encounter in Beattie Gulch, an area north of Gardiner.
The hunter was reportedly charged by the bear before shooting and killing the bear at close range in self-defense. The hunter was not injured.

Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks received a report of the incident the same day. FWP staff and staff from the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, U.S. Forest Service, and National Park Service visited the site and confirmed the bear mortality. An animal carcass was found nearby, and FWP bear specialists and game wardens determined the bear was likely acting defensively.

This incident is still under investigation by the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service.

Be bear aware
Montana is bear country. Grizzly bear populations continue to become denser and more widespread in Montana, increasing the likelihood that residents and recreationists will encounter them in more places each year.
This time of year is when bears are active for longer periods as they consume more food in preparation for hibernation. This period overlaps with hunting season and other fall recreation activities.
Avoiding conflicts with bears is easier than dealing with conflicts. Here are some precautions to help residents, recreationists and people who work outdoors avoid negative bear encounters:
  • Carry bear spray and practice to be prepared to use it immediately.
  • Make noise to alert bears to your presence and travel in groups.
  • Stay away from animal carcasses, which often attract bears.
  • Follow food storage orders from the applicable land management agency.
  • Keep garbage, bird feeders, pet food and other attractants put away in a secure building. Keep garbage in a secure building until the day it is collected. Certified bear-resistant garbage containers are available in many areas.
  • Never feed wildlife. Bears that become food conditioned lose their natural foraging behavior and pose threats to human safety. It is illegal to feed bears in Montana.
  • If you are attacked by a bear and you are without a deterrent or the deterrent hasn’t worked, stay face down on the ground, protecting your face and neck with your arms. Stay still until you’re certain the bear has moved away.
People who hunt in places that have or may have grizzly bears—which includes areas of Montana west of Billings—should take special precautions:
  • Carry bear spray and practice to be prepared to use it immediately.
  • Look for bear sign and be cautious around creeks and areas with limited visibility.
  • Hunt with a group of people. Making localized noise can help alert bears to your presence.
  • Be aware that elk calls and cover scents can attract bears.
  • Bring the equipment and people needed to help field dress game and remove the meat from the kill site as soon as possible.
  • If you need to leave part of the meat in the field during retrieval, hang it at least 10 feet off the ground and at least 150 yards from the gut pile. Leave it where it can be observed from a distance of at least 200 yards.
  • Upon your return, observe the meat with binoculars. If it has been disturbed or if a bear is in the area, leave and call FWP.
Grizzly bears in the lower 48 states are listed as threatened under the Endangered Species Act. Management authority for grizzlies rests with the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, working closely in Montana with FWP, the Forest Service, the National Park Service, the Bureau of Land Management, the U.S. Geological Survey, Wildlife Services, and Native American tribes. This collaboration happens through the Interagency Grizzly Bear Committee.
For more information and resources on bear safety, visit fwp.mt.gov/bear-aware.
-fwp-​
 
Thanks for an informative article. The wife and I are nearing retirement and look forward to spending our 5th wheel time out West. Hope to see wildlife that I don't get to see here and most importantly from a true safe zone for each. I thought the ear shape was something simple and easy to remember.
 
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Hunter kills grizzly bear in close encounter in Gravelly Range​

ENNIS – A hunter killed a grizzly bear Saturday during a close encounter in the Gravelly Range.
The hunter was reportedly charged by the bear before shooting and killing the bear at close range in self-defense. The hunter was not injured.
Staff from Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks visited the scene the next day and confirmed the bear mortality. The bear was an adult female grizzly with no known conflict history. The bear was in good body condition and appeared to be digging a den near where the encounter took place.
This incident is still under investigation by the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service.

Be bear aware

Montana is bear country. Grizzly bear populations continue to become denser and more widespread in Montana, increasing the likelihood that residents and recreationists will encounter them in more places each year.
This time of year is when bears are active for longer periods as they prepare for hibernation. This period overlaps with hunting season and other fall recreation activities. Hunters should be aware that bears will remain active throughout the general season.
Avoiding conflicts with bears is easier than dealing with conflicts. Here are some precautions to help residents, recreationists and people who work outdoors avoid negative bear encounters:
  • Carry bear spray and practice to be prepared to use it immediately.
  • Make noise to alert bears to your presence and travel in groups.
  • Stay away from animal carcasses, which often attract bears.
  • Follow food storage orders from the applicable land management agency.
  • Keep garbage, bird feeders, pet food and other attractants put away in a secure building. Keep garbage in a secure building until the day it is collected. Certified bear-resistant garbage containers are available in many areas.
  • Never feed wildlife. Bears that become food conditioned lose their natural foraging behavior and pose threats to human safety. It is illegal to feed bears in Montana.
  • If you are attacked by a bear and you are without a deterrent or the deterrent hasn’t worked, stay face down on the ground, protecting your face and neck with your arms. Stay still until you’re certain the bear has moved away.
People who hunt in places that have or may have grizzly bears—which includes areas of Montana west of Billings—should take special precautions:
  • Carry bear spray and practice to be prepared to use it immediately.
  • Look for bear sign and be cautious around creeks and areas with limited visibility.
  • Hunt with a group of people. Making localized noise can help alert bears to your presence.
  • Be aware that elk calls and cover scents can attract bears.
  • Bring the equipment and people needed to help field dress game and remove the meat from the kill site as soon as possible.
  • If you need to leave part of the meat in the field during retrieval, hang it at least 10 feet off the ground and at least 150 yards from the gut pile. Leave it where it can be observed from a distance of at least 200 yards.
  • Upon your return, observe the meat with binoculars. If it has been disturbed or if a bear is in the area, leave and call FWP.
Grizzly bears in the lower 48 states are listed as threatened under the Endangered Species Act. Management authority for grizzlies rests with the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, working closely in Montana with FWP, the Forest Service, the National Park Service, the Bureau of Land Management, the U.S. Geological Survey, Wildlife Services, and Native American tribes. This collaboration happens through the Interagency Grizzly Bear Committee.
For more information and resources on bear safety, visit fwp.mt.gov/bear-aware.
-fwp-​
 
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