From the redwood forest to the Gulf Stream waters, communities take root in the land and in water. We live, work, laugh and grow alongside our human and animal neighbors alike. We may not know their names or always see them, but we recognize their songs, their tracks and, when they’re gone, their absence.
When you think of Montana, you may picture sweeping mountain views from the valley floor or a trail high in the mountains. You may think of the “Big Sky State’s” wide-open spaces exposed to the breathtaking starry skies above. Or you may envision the spectacular rivers and cold mountain streams that draw humans and animals alike to their banks.
The wild animals roaming this state are as awe-inspiring as the lands. Wolverines traverse snowy territories. Mountain goats climb steep, rocky cliffs. Canada lynx prowl the remote forests and rugged terrain. And black-footed ferrets are making a comeback on the Great Plains in the eastern half of the state.
While the stunning landscape and its inhabitants have much to offer, there is one furry resident who is seen as a symbol of this great state. They rely on vast public lands and, with support from conservationists and passionate residents, are trying to reestablish themselves across the landscape.
Meet the Bears of Montana
Montanans and tourists should pack bear spray in case you run into one of the state's two bear species: black bears or grizzly bears. While the former is more widespread throughout Montana and not endangered, grizzly bears are threatened and still on the road to recovery in the state and throughout the Lower 48 states.
As one of the few states to maintain a healthy native grizzly bear population, it’s fitting these bears are Montana’s official state animal.
While bears do not seasonally migrate out-of-state like many birds, there are certain times of the year you are less likely to see them on the landscape. During the winter, between December and March, bears hibernate.
These low activity states allow the bears to survive periods of extreme weather and reduced food availability. They do not eat, drink or eliminate bodily waste during this time. Instead, the bears rely on fat reserves they built up during the spring, summer and fall months to support the remaining essential bodily functions.
This even applies to mother bears who give birth and feed young cubs, all without eating. It’s no wonder these animals emerge in the spring eager to follow their incredible noses to their next meal.
Both grizzly and black bears are omnivorous or eat a mix of plant and animal matter. Grizzly bears will dig for roots, bugs and small mammals, helping promote plant growth as they churn the soil. They are also opportunistic scavengers and will eat dead elk and bison, helping to keep the landscape clean and healthy.
Montana: Room to Roam
What’s the draw, for a grizzly bear, to Montana? Grizzly bears utilize a lot of different habitats. Montana’s expansive and diverse public lands provide bears room to roam, raise their young, den in winter and find food.
But bears also need to move between those public lands, which requires them to live and travel through private working lands. This can be a challenge for both people and bears, but it’s necessary to work together to support both working lands and our native wildlife.
It wasn’t all that long ago that we nearly lost grizzly bears. Historically, grizzly bears numbered close to 50,000, and roamed from Canada to Mexico and from California to Kansas. By the 1970s, however, overhunting, poison and habitat destruction caused grizzly bear population numbers to plummet to just a few hundred. Those who remained lived mostly within Yellowstone and Glacier National Parks, the last strongholds.
Grizzly bear populations today sit at a little over 2,000 bears in four of the six recovery zones identified in the 1990s. Idaho and Montana’s Bitterroot ecosystem is one of the two zones that still do not have a viable grizzly bear population.
A Shared Home in Need of Protecting
As the West becomes increasingly developed, people and grizzly bears are increasingly being forced to share the landscape. The two biggest threats to Montana’s grizzly bears are loss of habitat and human-related deaths. The good news is that both Montanans and visitors to the Big Sky State can help.
Be bear aware! Pay attention when hiking and recreating in Montana’s great outdoors. Talk loudly or sing to help make wildlife aware of your presence, as they will often avoid people. Do not wear headphones as they can limit what you can hear in nature.
Hikers and campers should dispose of trash in bear resistant containers. Ensure your food and other attractants are properly stowed and do not leave coolers out on picnic tables while you are away.
Residents should additionally make sure garbage is stored in a secure building until the day of pickup or in a bear resistant container. Protect your chicken coops and other livestock with bear-resistant electric fencing. Bring your birdfeeders inside starting in March and wait to put them back out until the bears have gone to their dens to hibernate in December.
On the off chance you encounter a bear, do not approach it! The National Park Service advises staying at least the length of a football field, or 100 yards, away from bears. 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, please, carry bear spray and know how to use it.
Montana displays pride for its state animal during its annual Bear Awareness Month in September. Montana Fish Wildlife and Parks hosts free education events across the state throughout the month to educate how to safely live alongside these animals. You can learn how to use bear spray, how to secure attractants at your home or basic bear biology. Whether you live in or are visiting Montana, Bear Awareness month reminds us that we can all do our part to prevent human-bear conflicts.
Take Pride in Your Bear Neighbors
Imagine Montana without its breathtaking starry skies blanketing the beautiful, public lands. Imagine the rivers and cold mountain streams without the furry paws and rough tongues lapping at their banks. What would the Big Sky State look like without its four-legged wildlife? Empty.
The next time you take pride in being a Montanan, take pride in the wild critters who share this home with you. Handle your bear spray with confidence. Haul out or pack away all your trash and food to a secure place where hungry bears won’t sniff it out. Hike and adventure outdoors while remaining alert to the wild animals sharing the landscape with you. And then, when you think you know it all about your fellow Montanan bears, challenge yourself to learn about the other wildlife sharing our beautiful home.
What's your favorite Montana wildlife? Have an incredible bear story? Share with us in the comments! Then, stay tuned for our next wild locals in Hawai’i.
Author
Erin Edge
