Temperatures are warming and bears are coming out of their winter slumber. They’ve been cooped up for months, alone or cramped in with newly born cubs. Now, they are ready to stretch their legs and eat.
There are steps you can take to make the landscape safer for both bears and people. So, make sure you know what to do if you encounter a bear and how to prevent human-bear conflicts. Read on for the best bear safety tips and grizzly bear updates!
What to do if You See a Bear
Be prepared. Know what to do if you see a bear at home or at a campsite to prevent them from getting into trouble. Remember, it has been a long winter! Mama bears have also been busy feeding their young cubs without eating themselves. Can you imagine the grumbles coming from that belly? Now they are following their noses!
Secure items that may attract a hungry bear. This includes bringing in bird feeders during the time bears are awake. Here in Montana, we recommend April-December. Store trash in a bear-resistant manner until the morning of pickup or until you can take it to a waste transfer site. Do not leave coolers out and available to bears. Instead, lock them in a bear resistant food locker or in your vehicle. Check to see if the area you are visiting has a Food Storage Order. These rules, often on state and federal lands, require you to properly store attractants so you do not get in trouble with bears.
When you’re out exploring in bear county, be aware of your surroundings. Do not use headphones. Instead enjoy nature and the natural sounds around you. Can you hear the drum beat a pileated woodpecker or a rustle of an American ermine? Keep an eye out for scratch marks on trees, overturned logs and of course bear scat. These signs can alert you that a bear is active in the area. Also take note if you are in an area where berries are plentiful. Berries are a natural and important food resource for bears, and they may be around gobbling huckleberries or chokecherries.
Now, there is still the off chance you may encounter a bear. Carry bear spray and know how to use it. Bear spray has been shown to be effective at deterring a bear when used properly and can increase your and the bear’s chances of walking away from an encounter. So, know how to use bear spray before you head out. Do a little research and even find a safe place to practice. A little preparation before heading into bear country can go a long way.
Check out more tips on what you can do to prevent bear encounters.
How to Keep Your Home Bear-Safe
If you live in bear country or are visiting, now is the time to make sure attractants on the property are secured. Bring in bird feeders, keep garbage in a bear resistant container or secure building until the morning of pickup, and check your chickens and their feed are safe behind a properly installed bear-resistant electric fence.
Don’t forget to pick your domestic fruit trees! These fruit trees can lure in bears. Imagine our hungry mama bear searching for food and typically finding tiny berries. But then, she stumbles upon an apple and, better yet, a tree full of apples! Domestic fruit is irresistible and can bring bears close to homes and people.
We know for residents of bear country, these extra steps may involve a cost so Defenders has invested in helping people who live in bear country get the resources and tools they need to prevent conflicts. For example, Defenders has led an electric fencing incentive program for over 14 years. Our program has completed 713 projects, including 49 in 2024. That’s an investment of over $250,000! We also continue to assist with projects to secure garbage, outreach and education, and collaboratives like Bear Smart Missoula.
Read more tips on how you can keep your home or rental bear safe!
A mama bear — animal or human — will follow their instincts to ensure her young are well fed and given the best chance of a future. But we humans are the only ones who can ensure the bears stay wild. We have the power to create a landscape that is safe for both bears and people.
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