Bears in Your Backyard? Defenders of Wildlife Can Help!

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.”