Bear Awareness Is An Important Outdoor Skill

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Montana Fish Wildlife & Parks bear specialists say it’s a good idea for campers, hikers and anglers to refresh their bear awareness skills now, before they head out for a summer of camping, fishing, boating or hiking.

FWP’s bear specialists say most bears are shy of people because they are still “wild.” Bears generally don’t become a problem unless people make it easy for them to get food. Bears that associate food with people can quickly become bold and be more dangerous and destructive to property.

Anyone who observes a bear hanging around camps or residences or raiding garbage, orchards or gardens should report the animal to FWP for observation.

Here are some tips on sharpening your bear awareness skills.

Hikers:

* Do not travel 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:

* Locate camps 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.