Know Your Bears

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Bear identification is not just for hunters anymore. As people and bears, particularly grizzly bears, expand their ranges in Montana -- encroaching on each other’s territories -- encounters are more likely for anyone who spends time in the outdoors. The question isn’t whether bird hunters, hikers, campers and others will see a bear, the question is will they know if they’re looking at a black bear or a grizzly and what will they know about the bear they are seeing? The new bear identification program on FWP’s website (fwp.state.mt.us/bearid) is one educational tool anyone can use to hone bear identification skills. It takes participants through educational experiences that illustrate the key distinguishing physical features of bears and simulates real encounters with bears. The user is prompted to identify"virtual" bears in different settings by learning to look for a combination of physical characteristics, including the presence of a shoulder hump, the profile of the snout, and the shape of the ears. Even with careful training, some uncertainty naturally occurs in trying to identify a wild animal. For bear hunters, the basic rule of"when in doubt, don’t shoot," applies. The rule for others in encountering a bear is"treat every bear like it is a grizzly." Knowledge is the best way to protect yourself and to protect Montana’s bears. To visit the bear identification training program on the FWP web site go to www.fwp.state.mt.us/bearid/ .