Securing attractants around the home can prevent problems
As the dog days of summer wear on across Montana, another reality is becoming clear – the berry crop bears depend on for food in the late summer and fall isn't what it should be.
Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks specialists around the state are seeing similar behavior – bears that should be foraging for berries in the mountains are getting into trouble around homes and communities looking for something to eat.
Jamie Jonkel is FWP's long-time bear conflict specialist in the Missoula area. He's experienced this cycle of behavior time and again when natural food sources aren't available.
"This year is panning out to be one of the worst natural food failure years on record," said Jonkel. "Our regional bear team is working around the clock, and we are asking the public to be patient and to please be diligent with containing all attractants."
The way to avoid bear conflicts around your home is relatively simple – keep all bear attractants secured and out of the reach of bears.
Hungry bears – both black bears and grizzlies – can be attracted to a variety of things around homes. Garbage cans can be an easy target. Accessible cans are easily tipped over and rifled through. Bears can get a quick meal and move on down the alley. Other easy meals are bird feeders or pet food left outside.
Other trickier items to secure are things like chicken coops, which are growing in popularity for people around the state. FWP has an abundance of information on how to secure attractants online – even chicken coops, which can readily be protected by electric fencing.
"Uncontained garbage is by far our biggest issue, but over the last 20 years we have also seen a huge increase in chicken and small livestock related conflicts," Jonkel said. "If you have backyard livestock like chickens or goats, it is critical that you have them secured with hot-ground/multi-wire electric fence and FWP can help if you have questions."
FWP wildlife staff in the area where Jonkel works have responded to more than 250 black bear-related incidents in the last two months, many of those related bears getting into chicken coops near homes.
"We really need your help this year," said FWP Region 1 bear and lion conflict specialist Justine Vallieres. "We live in an area with a high density of both black and grizzly bears, and when natural food sources are low, we all play a role in keeping our communities and wildlife safe. Being proactive about securing attractants can make a big difference, because even if you haven't had a bear visit before, there's always a chance one could pass through."
The reality is that securing attractants is both a personal responsibility and a neighborhood and community obligation. If only one person in a neighborhood ignores unsecured attractants, that can lead to problems for everyone.
If anyone is experiencing a bear-related concern, they should contact FWP as soon as possible. Responding to conflicts or issues as soon as possible allows specialists to stop bigger issues from occurring. Bear conflict staff can help secure attractants, assess your property or neighborhood to identify potential issues and, if necessary, remove bears that have become habituated.
Follow these tips to reduce bear conflicts around home:
- Store garbage and recycling in a bear-resistant container and indoors until collection day.
- Put pet and livestock food indoors and take down bird feeders.
- Clean barbeque grills after use.
- Pick backyard fruit immediately when ripe and consider electric fencing around fruit trees, gardens and compost piles.
- Secure vulnerable backyard livestock (chickens, goats, sheep) with an electric fence. Download this electric fence guide (PDF)
To find the contact information for the bear conflict specialist in your area, please go to this webpage, or call your local FWP office.
To find all of FWP's online resource for living and recreating in bear country, click here.