Educational activities planned around state
HELENA – September is Bear Aware month in Montana and as bear activity increases and archery hunters take the field, Gov. Greg Gianforte, Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks, and several partner organizations, are highlighting the importance of being bear aware.
On Friday, Gov. Gianforte proclaimed September as Bear Aware Month. Along with this proclamation, FWP and partners will host several education events and opportunities featuring activities, prizes and giveaways, including bear spray and other fun items.
These events include:
- Sept. 3, Bozeman, 5:30 p.m., Bear Aware presentation, Museum of the Rockies
- Sept. 4, Helena, 4-4:45 p.m., Bear Yoga for kids ages 3-7, Montana WILD
- Sept. 4, Miles City, 5:30-7 p.m., Bear Aware presentation with hands-on bear spray demos, FWP Office T352 I-94 Business Loop
- Sept. 4, Zoom, 6-7:30 p.m., Virtual bear safety presentation with information for hunters, join via Zoom
- Sept. 5, Columbus, 4-6:30 p.m., Farmers Market, Granite Peak Park
- Sept. 7, Lewistown, All day, Lewistown Chokecherry Festival on Main Street
- Sept. 7, Trego, All day, Trego Rendezvous Days, TFS Community Hall
- Sept. 10, Helena, 4-4:45 p.m., Bear Story Time for young learners (accompanied by an adult), Montana WILD
- Sept. 12, Columbia Falls, 5-8 p.m., Columbia Falls Community Market, 165 Veteran Drive, next to St. Richard Catholic Church
- Sept. 13, Billings, 10 a.m.-noon, Bear Story Time, Billings Public Library
- Sept. 19, Helena, 5-8 p.m., Bear Safety Skills – for the whole family, Montana WILD
- Sept. 21, Missoula, 8 a.m.-1 p.m., Clark Fork River Market, 225 S. Pattee Street
For more details about these and other events and activities, visit fwp.mt.gov/bear-aware. To watch an interview with a hunter who survived a grizzly bear attack, click here.
Grizzly bear populations and distribution continue to increase across Montana. In many places, these increases are happening in areas where the human population is increasing. it’s more important than ever to be bear aware. Bears also become more active in late summer and fall as they spend more time eating in preparation for hibernation. This increased activity often puts them in close proximity to hunters, homeowners, agriculture operations, and communities.
