BOZEMAN – Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks staff confirmed a grizzly bear sighting in the Bangtail Range east of Bozeman this month.
FWP grizzly bear specialists confirmed the sighting after a trail camera captured images of a single subadult grizzly bear on National Forest land. This is the first time a grizzly bear has been formally documented in the Bangtails since grizzly bear recovery efforts began.
The sighting is not far from areas with previously documented grizzly bear presence, including a grizzly bear of similar size that was seen traveling along the Yellowstone River in Livingston this fall, as well as one observed in the Shields Valley in 2023.
These cases serve as a reminder that Montana is bear country. Grizzly bear populations continue to become denser and more widespread in Montana, increasing the likelihood that residents and recreationists will encounter them in more places each year. People should be prepared to encounter grizzly bears anywhere in the western two-thirds of the state.
Avoiding conflicts with bears is far better than dealing with such conflicts. Here are some recommended ways to avoid conflicts with bears:
Carry bear spray and be prepared to use it immediately.
Travel in groups whenever possible and make noise, which can help alert bears to your presence.
Stay away from animal carcasses, which often attract bears.
Follow food storage orders from the applicable land management agency.
If you encounter a bear, never approach it. Leave the area when it is safe to do so.
Keep garbage, bird feeders, pet food and other attractants put away in a secure building. Keep garbage in a secure building until the day it is collected. Certified bear-resistant garbage containers are available in many areas.
Never feed wildlife. Bears that become food conditioned lose their natural foraging behavior and pose threats to human safety. It is illegal to feed bears in Montana.
Source: FWP
Photo: Pixabay
