September is Bear Aware Month in Montana
Author: Fish, Willdlife and Parks
Article Published: // Volume: Edition: Attend an event and bring in your expired, empty or unwanted bear spray cans to an FWP office.
This week kicks off Bear Aware Month. During this annual event, Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks focuses our communication and education efforts on making Montana residents, visitors and communities more bear aware.
“Grizzly bears have surpassed recovery objectives across much of the state, and as Montana is ready to assume management of bears, the safety of communities and landowners continue to be our focus,” said FWP Director Christy Clark. “Education and outreach continue to be one of the key pillars of bear management and Bear Aware Month highlights the importance of how to live and recreate safely in bear country.”
New this year, Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks will be collecting expired, empty and unwanted bear spray cans at our offices around the state. Simply drop off your old bear spray and enter to win a bear spray storage container.
Other events include bear aware safety workshops, a fruit collection drive, bear aware office hours and more. Several of the events will have inert bear spray on hand so participants can practice spraying at a charging robo bear.
“Most bears want to avoid contact with people,” said FWP wildlife stewardship outreach specialist Danielle Oyler. “But the best thing to do to avoid an unpleasant encounter with a bear is to assume bears are around and be prepared.”
Bears are mostly found in western Montana but are increasingly roaming into areas they have not occupied for decades. Now through November, bears across Montana prepare for hibernation. They get ready to hibernate by overeating and gaining as much weight as they can in a period called hyperphagia. Bear encounters are most frequent during this time of year.
For more information about being bear aware, visit FWP’s Bear Aware webpage at
https://mt43news.com/mt43newsRouter/BearAwareWebpage
or download the Bear Aware Playbook at
https://mt43news.com/mt43newsRouter/BearAwarePlaybook
For more information visit:
https://mt43news.com/mt43newsRouter/BearAwareInformation
Here is a list of September Bear Aware events across the state. For more information about these and other FWP events, visit FWP’s event calendar.
Sept. 3 – Ulm, Ulm Fire Hall, 29 Old U.S. Highway 91, 6 p.m. Bear aware and safety workshop. T
Sept. 3 – Bozeman, Region 3 Headquarters, 1400 S. 19th Avenue, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. This event include lectures, displays and bear safety tips.
Sept. 8-11 – Kalispell, FWP will accept fruit donations from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. from landowners gleaning or removing fruit from their properties. Region 1 headquarters, 490 N. Meridian Road in Kalispell.
Sept 9 – Helena, Montana Wild, 2668 Broadwater Ave, 4 p.m. to 5p.m. Family Hike: Exploring Bear Country. All ages are welcome, spaces are limited. Registration required. Call 406-444-9941
Sept. 12 –Whitefish, North Valley Food Bank Harvest Fest, noon to 2 p.m. Learn about safely recreating in bear country and tips for how to secure attractants around your home.
Sept. 8, 15, 22, 29 –Kalispell, Region 1 Headquarters, 490 N Meridian Road, 3 to 5 p.m. Stop by any time during these office hours for bear safety tips and to practice with inert bear spray.
Sept. 14, 21, 28 – Helena, 2668 Broadwater Ave, Montana WILD, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Every Monday (except for Labor Day) Campsite Bear Aware Challenge. No registration required.
Sept. 16 – Missoula, Region 2 Headquarters, 3201 Spurgin Road, 4 to 6 p.m. Bear aware office hours. No registration is required.
Sept. 17 – Lone Pine State Park near Kalispell, 6:30 p.m. Learn about recreating safely in bear country. This event is free and no registration is required.
Sept. 30 – Helena, Montana Wild, 2668 Broadwater Ave, 4 p.m. to 5 p.m. Bear Evolution Talk Ages 10+, spaces are limited. Registration required. Call 406-444-9941
Get The Bear Aware Playbook:
https://mt43news.com/mt43newsRouter/BearAwarePlaybook
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PhotoCredit: Fish, Wildlife and Parks
Image 1 Caption: Bear Map
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