Bears Emerge from Winter Dens, Find More Winter

Thursday, April 24, 2008
Headlines - Region 4

This article was Archived on Saturday, May 24, 2008

The recent spate of early spring snowstorms seems to have slowed the emergence of bears from their winter dens. “There are some grizzly bears out of their dens and down on low elevation private lands,” says Mike Madel, Fish, Wildlife and Parks bear management specialist. “But no bear-people conflicts to date on the Rocky Mountain Front.”

Madel works out of Choteau on the Front, where grizzlies mix with livestock interests.

Elsewhere in FWP’s Region 4, north central Montana, there have been few reports of black bears out.

“I think they are going to come out of their dens late this year,” says Gary Olson, FWP wildlife biologist in Conrad.

So far, no Region 4 hunters have checked black bear hides and carcasses, as required by law, at either the FWP office in Great Falls or the Lewistown area office. Black bear spring season in Region 4 runs April 15 to May 31.

However, with warm weather sure to come, landowners and recreationists need to remember a few basic precautions when in bear country:

• Take down winter bird feeders. Especially those close to the ground within easy reach of bears. Birdseed and suet can easily attract a hungry bear.
  
  
• When camping, store food properly. Either hang it out of reach of bears or store it in a hard-sided vehicle, like a car, truck or camper.
  
  
• Store garbage in out buildings, barbeques, too, when not in use. And don’t leave pet food out.
  
  
• When hiking in bear country, especially in grizzly country, carry bear spray, know how to use it and keep it accessible. Bear spray buried in a backpack won’t do much good in chance encounter.
  
  

Bears are a part of Montana’ wildlife landscape, and it’s a treat to see one. Just don’t turn a good experience into a bad one.