UPDATES
June 27, 2018
Region-wide: It appears that the frost earlier in the month did not affect berry crops. Chokecherry, hawthorn, huckleberry, and serviceberry appear to be doing quite well and we should see huckleberry and serviceberry start ripening in the next week or two. While things should quiet down with ripening huckleberries and serviceberries, the region needs to continue to make sure that attractants are inaccessible to bears. This means containing garbage in a bear-resistant manner, taking garbage out the morning of pick up, and removing all bird feeders.
GRIZZLY BEAR
Clearwater & Blackfoot drainages: FWP is receiving several reports of people seeing grizzly bears throughout the Clearwater and Blackfoot drainages and in lower agriculture fields and foothills in the area.
Ovando: FWP continues to get reports of 1-2 bears getting into garbage and grain. FWP has set traps, but no bears have been captured at this time. There have been several calls from people seeing grizzly bears close to home sites northeast of Ovando.
Helmville: Wildlife Services responded to a report of a wounded calf by a bear of unknown species west of Helmville.
Helena: Wildlife Services responded to a grizzly bear feeding on a calf in the canyon creek area north of Helena. The bear had scavenged the carcass, which had died from natural causes.
Condon: A grizzly bear cub was road-killed on highway 83 in the Condon area.
BLACK BEAR
Region-wide: FWP continues to receive reports of bears accessing garbage and bird feeders left out throughout the region. Multiple black bears have been road-killed throughout Region 2 on busy stretches of highway while they were trying to access garbage.
Lolo: A black bear was shot and killed while accessing a goat pen in the Lolo area. FWP investigated and recommended that the homeowner get electric fencing. A black bear was captured in a trap set for the bears scavenging and entering garages in the Lolo area. FWP was not positive that this was the bear responsible and therefore the bear was relocated to a remote site.
Hamilton: There are traps set for a family group of black bears in the Hamilton area.
Butler & Grant Creek areas: There has been an increase in black bear activity in the Butler and upper Grant Creek areas. About 4-5 bears are accessing garbage and bird feeders in the area. Neighborhood phone trees were initiated and FWP is investigating.
Rattlesnake: While there are still a few reports of garbage cans being tipped over by bears in the area, overall the valley has recently had fewer conflicts than other areas. Please keep up the good work and continue to take garbage out the morning of pick up and store all attractants in a bear-resistant manner.
MOUNTAIN LIONS
Region-wide: We continue to field reports of mountain lions throughout Region 2. There have been several reports of lions, coyotes, and other predators near home sites hunting newborn fawns and elk calves.
Potomac: A goat was killed in the Potomac area. Wildlife Services is attempting to capture the lion.
Superior: There was a report of a lion attempting to take some house cats in the Superior area.
MOOSE
Missoula: FWP received reports of a moose around the University area and lower Mt. Sentinal last night. FWP is monitoring.
June 20, 2018
MOOSE
FWP continues to get reports of moose in the Missoula area. Moose are not usually aggressive unless approached too closely and cow moose with calves can be very protective.
BLACK BEAR
Lolo: FWP continues to get numerous calls about bears repeatedly getting into garbage. A black bear cub of the year was hit by a car and killed on HWY 12 and an orphaned cub appeared in Mill Creek. FWP captured the cub and took it to the rehabilitation center in Helena. FWP is asking residents to contain all attractants in a bear-resistant manner. This includes bringing in bird feeders and securing garbage in a bear-resistant manner until the morning of pick up. To further outreach efforts, FWP is actively working with residents to initiate a bear aware neighborhood program.
Pattee Canyon: A black bear was seen the evening of June 19th near the Crazy Canyon parking lot. When recreating in bear country please know how to use and carry bear spray.
Grant Creek and Butler Creek: Multiple black bears have been getting into garbage. Residents should contain garbage in a bear-resistant manner until the morning of pick up. FWP is investigating a dead black bear in upper Butler Creek.
Lincoln: FWP continues to get reports of black bears in the area.
Seeley Lake: A female with cubs has been spotted on the Double Arrow. Please bring in bird feeders and contain attractants in a bear-resistant manner.
GRIZZLY BEAR
Blackfoot: FWP continues to get reports of grizzly bear activity in the valley.
Lincoln: A grizzly bear was seen near a home and moved on after the homeowner yelled. FWP is monitoring.
Helmville: A bear unsuccessfully tried to get into a bear-resistant garbage can. This is suspected to be a grizzly bear. FWP is monitoring.
MOUNTAIN LION
Region-wide: FWP is receiving reports of lion activity region-wide where there is abundant deer activity.
Lolo: FWP received a report of a mountain lion in a residential area. FWP is monitoring.
Jumbo Saddle: There have been reports of mountain lion activity in the area. Two deer fawns killed by a mountain lion were relocated away from trails.
Ovando: There were reports of a mountain lion near a home. FWP is monitoring.
June 15, 2018
MOOSE
Upper Rattlesnake: A moose was seen near Ten Spoon Winery in the Upper Rattlesnake early the morning of June 16th.
Middle of Missoula: A yearling bull moose showed up near 14th and Caitlin. FWP darted and relocated this moose out of town.
June 14, 2018
BLACK BEAR
Rattlesnake Recreation Area: We have had reports from people recreating in the Rattlesnake corridor of multiple black bears near the trail. Please be aware of bear activity in the area. Dogs should be under control. Carry bear spray and know how to use it.
Mill Creek – Lolo: FWP pulled two traps but has two traps still set to capture black bears in the area. A black bear entered two homes. At one home the bear went in an open window and at the second home the bear went in a door that was open. The bear entering the door went to a table and grabbed food. FWP will be trying to capture this bear.
MOUNTAIN LION
South Hills-Moose Can Gully: A mountain lion was seen near residences. FWP is monitoring.
Donovan Creek/Clinton: A mountain lion killed a deer and there was interaction with a dog near the carcass. FWP removed the carcass and the dog was okay.
Upper Grant Creek: A mountain lion was seen passing through the area.
MOOSE
Pattee Canyon and Crazy Canyon Recreation Areas: FWP has received multiple reports of a moose and moose with a calf near the trails in Pattee Canyon and Crazy Canyon. Moose can be dangerous if approached. Please be aware of moose activity in the area and make sure dogs are under control. There were reports of dogs chasing a moose.
June 13, 2018
BLACK BEAR and MOOSE
Bonner: A black bear with young was seen near the town of Bonner. Please contain all attractants in a bear-resistant manner and bring in bird feeders.
Rattlesnake: A black bear with 3 cubs was seen near the trail at the end of Duncan Drive. There has also been a bull moose and a female moose with a calf. Female moose with young calves can be dangerous. It appears this moose is using the area frequently. Signs are posted.
Butler Creek – Snowbowl Road: Two different black bears lifted a slightly opened garage door. FWP loaned the resident a Critter Gitter, a motion triggered, very loud alarm used as a wildlife deterrent. FWP will continue to monitor.
June 12, 2018
Region-wide: The cold snap could disturb natural berry production (serviceberry, chokecherry, etc.). A hard freeze can kill off flowers on fruit producing shrubs. Bears rely on berries as a natural food resource later in the summer and human-bear conflicts could go up if berry production is low, especially if bears have easy access to things such as garbage, pet feed and bird feeders.
BLACK BEAR
Lincoln: There have been reports of multiple black bears in and around Lincoln near residences. FWP aversive-conditioned one black bear and is monitoring a black bear that pressed its nose up against a window.
Lolo: FWP has three traps set in the area for multiple black bears. Traps have been set in the Lolo area due to escalation in bear activity, including bears on porches and near homes, even in some cases where attractants were contained. FWP is working with the waste hauler and local community to resolve issues related to garbage. Bears are continuing to find unsecured garbage and bird feeders in the area. Please contain all attractants in a bear-resistant manner.
Ravalli County: Due to the level and history of black bear conflicts, FWP is not going to simply set traps when bears get into garbage. Residents must first show that they are actively containing garbage in a bear-resistant manner until morning of pick up or until they can remove garbage.
GRIZZLY BEAR
Ovando: FWP has set traps for a pair of grizzly bears that have gotten into uncontained garbage. FWP also checked out bear-resistant containers to residents and a local restaurant. The bears have not returned. FWP planned on pulling the trap on Monday but will continue to monitor.
Swan Valley: The grizzly bear that accessed a chicken coop and uncontained garbage in Seeley Lake has moved into the Swan Valley and FWP has a trap set for this bear.
MOUNTAIN LION
Corvallis area: A mountain lion killed lambs and ewes. Wildlife Services is actively trying to catch this lion.
June 7, 2018
BLACK BEAR
Grant Creek: There continue to be reports of a black bear getting into garbage in the Prospect area. Animal Control will be patrolling for residents that leave their garbage out and accessible to bears before the morning of garbage pick up. FWP will be setting a trap for this bear.
Butler Creek: We have received reports of multiple black bears near residences. Please contain all attractants in a bear-resistant manner and bring in bird feeders.
W Fork Bitterroot: FWP has received multiple reports of black bears pulling down bird feeders and getting into garbage. Please contain all attractants in a bear-resistant manner.
Lolo: FWP continues to get reports of bears, including female with cubs, getting into garbage in Lolo. Contain all garbage in a bear-resistant manner until the morning of pick up and bring in all bird feeders.
GRIZZLY BEAR
Seeley Lake: FWP has pulled a trap for a male grizzly bear that had gotten into unsecured attractants in the area. The bear has moved out of the area. FWP will continue to monitor.
Ovando: Two grizzly bears got into garbage and a chicken coop. FWP is in the process of investigating.
Helmville: FWP is investigating reports of a calf depredation.