For Immediate Release

Defenders of Wildlife’s 8th annual Electric Fence Incentive Program is underway. People in specified counties in Montana, Idaho, Wyoming and eastern Washington can apply for funding and technical assistance to build bear-resistant electric fencing that safely protects property from grizzly and black bears.

Russell Talmo, Rockies and Plains Program Associate with Defenders of Wildlife, issued this statement:

“We want to ensure that people and bears can share the landscape together. This kind of tough love is saving bears while protecting property and small livestock. As bears emerge from their dens each spring, they find themselves roaming into valley bottoms looking for easily accessible food resources. Many of those foods are found on private lands with chicken coops or fruit trees that we don’t want them getting into. Electric fencing around these attractants is a simple and effective way to keep bears out of conflict with people all year long. It’s a win-win situation for bears and landowners.”

For nearly 80 years, Defenders of Wildlife has worked to protect and restore America’s wildlife at risk of extinction, advancing a vision of a future in which wildlife thrives, sustained by broad public support and a resilient network of healthy lands and waters. With a network of more than 2 million supporters, Defenders is an advocate for innovative solutions to safeguard wildlife for generations to come. To learn more, please visit https://defenders.org/newsroom or follow us on Instagram @defendersofwildlife.  

 

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