Montana Fish Wildlife & Parks bear specialists say that campers, hikers and anglers are more likely than ever to see a bear this summer."Grizzly bears are continuing to gradually expand into new areas and Montana’s black bear population is thriving," said Tim Manley, FWP grizzly bear specialist in northwest Montana. "I urge the folks I see when I’m out in the field to brush up on their bear facts and to be bear aware."
Manley has spent the past several summers in the Whitefish and Glacier Park area working with the Wind River Bear Institute of Heber, Utah, to develop and test techniques to retrain bears to be wild after they have learned to associate food with places where people live and recreate.
"Bears who associate food with people quickly become bolder and more dangerous, but by nature a bear will prefer to avoid humans," Manley said. Manley said anyone who observes a bear hanging around camps or residences or raiding garbage, orchards or gardens should report the animal to FWP for observation.
"Most bears that people see in the back woods camping, hiking or angling are going to be good, wild bears that we’d like to keep that way. They won’t become a problem, unless people make it easy for them to get food," Manley said.
Manley’s recommendations are:
Hikers:
· Avoid traveling alone in known grizzly habitat or nearby areas.
· Make noise by talking, singing or wearing a bell so a bear can act on their natural instinct to avoid people.
· Be especially alert near berry patches and avoid areas with evidence of bears such as bear tracks, droppings, digging, freshly opened tree stumps and partly consumed animal carcasses.
Campers:
· Camp away from trails and areas with obvious grizzly sign or known grizzly sightings.
· Keep a clean camp and avoid cooking smelly foods.
· Hang all food, trash and other items at least 10 feet above ground and four feet from any vertical support.
· Livestock feed should be stored in the same way as human food, or in a bear-proof container.
· Keep tents and sleeping bags free of odors and, if possible, don’t sleep in the same clothes worn when cooking.
Anglers:
· Avoid leaving fish entrails on shorelines of lakes and streams.
· Fish with a partner or make sure someone else knows where you will be fishing.
· Whenever possible avoid heavy brush along stream sides that could provide cover for a traveling bear or make it difficult for a bear to see or hear you.
· After catching fish, return to camp or the car to store the fish in a cooler, reducing the chance of a bear being attracted to the smell of dead fish.
Manley said it may be useful for campers, hikers and anglers to visualize what they would do if they encounter a bear in order to help themselves mentally prepare. Also, bear pepper spray has been effective in warding off charging bears. Have it available and know how to use it.
Manley’s recommendations are to stay calm and maintain a safe distance if a bear appears. Behave in a non-threatening way and attempt to move away. If the bear approaches, drop something in front of you and then slowly back away, avoiding eye contact. If the bear doesn’t leave or charges, one option is to continue standing. Sometimes bears will "bluff charge" to escape while keeping the human unnerved. As a last resort, assume a cannonball position with any coat or backpack kept on to provide protection. Cover your neck and head with your arms and hands and curl up to protect your stomach.
"Things not to do, in my book, if you can avoid it, are climbing a tree—most bears are very good climbers; running—grizzlies can outrun the world’s fastest human; and using a weapon—an attacking bear is a bad thing, but a wounded, attacking bear is much worse," Manly said.
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