UPDATES
September 28, 2017
BLACK BEAR
Lolo: There have been multiple calls received by FWP of black bears in domestic fruit and garbage, particularly in residential areas along the river bottoms. Contain all attractants in a bear-resistant manner.
Seeley: Multiple black bears started getting into garbage when the town was evacuated. FWP and the community are now talking to the Forest Service and others about creating a future protocol for garbage pickup in the event this happens again. Wardens have trapped and relocated 3 black bears from this area. Please contain all garbage in a bear-resistant manner until the morning of pickup or until the day you remove it.
Farviews: There are at least 2-3 different bears in the area that have been in garbage and fruit trees. This includes sightings off Crestview and Artemos. Contain all garbage in a bear-resistant manner until the morning of pickup. Bring in bird feeders and pick fruit trees.
Pattee Canyon: There have been multiple bear sightings in the area but minimal conflicts. FWP encourages residents to continue to contain attractants in a bear-resistant manner
South Hills: Multiple black bears have been seen in domestic fruit trees and garbage. Pick domestic fruit and contain garbage in a bear-resistant manner until the morning of pickup. Bring in bird feeders.
Lower Miller Creek: Multiple black bears have been seen along river bottoms and in domestic fruit trees. Please contain all attractants in a bear-resistant manner.
Big Flat/O’Brien Creek: Multiple black bears have been seen in domestic fruit trees and garbage. Pick domestic fruit and contain garbage in a bear-resistant manner until the morning of pickup. Bring in bird feeders.
Ninemile/Six Mile: There have been multiple bear sightings in the area but minimal conflicts. FWP encourages residents to continue to contain attractants in a bear-resistant manner
Rattlesnake: Animal Control has issued 100 tickets/warning tickets in the Rattlesnake for the garbage ordinance. There are multiple black bears that are getting into garbage. Republic Services has bear-resistant garbage containers available for checkout. The Living with Wildlife Foundation has some ideas for building bear-resistant garbage cages in their Refuse Management Guide. Please check with Republic Services before building your own bear-resistant garbage cage or storage. Due to the level of bear activity in the neighborhood, FWP recommends being bear aware when moving through the parks and walking in the neighborhoods. Please educate kids about bear safety and carrying bear spray is always recommended in bear country.
Grant Creek: There have been multiple bear sightings in Grant Creek but minimal conflicts. FWP encourages residents to continue to contain attractants in a bear-resistant manner.
University Area: A black bear has been seen in garbage and fruit trees. Please contain all garbage in a bear-resistant manner until the morning of pickup and pick domestic fruit.
Potomac: Multiple black bears have been getting into garbage all week in Union Creek and elsewhere in the Potomac area. FWP is working with the community to try and address this issue. Contain all garbage until the morning of pickup. Pick all domestic fruit.
McNamara Landing/Johnsrud area: Multiple black bears have been getting into garbage and other attractants. FWP is asking residents to contain all attractants in a bear-resistant manner.
Bonner: There are multiple bears in the Bonner mountain foothills area that have been getting into garbage and domestic fruit. Please contain all garbage in a bear-resistant manner until the morning of pickup and pick domestic fruit.
Hwy 200: A black bear was hit by a car and killed.
East Missoula/Clinton: Multiple reports of black bears in apples. Please contain all garbage in a bear-resistant manner until the morning of pickup and pick domestic fruit. A black bear was killed on I-90.
Georgetown Lake: Residents continue to leave garbage out for multiple days and black bears are getting into it. Please contain garbage in a bear-resistant manner until it is picked up. If you are leaving days before garbage pickup, FWP recommends removing the garbage the day you leave.
GRIZZLY BEAR
Seeley: A grizzly bear has been seen in the residential area just north of Seeley Lake. This bear is getting into uncontained garbage. FWP is monitoring and asking residents to contain all attractants in a bear-resistant manner.
Elliston: A group of bow hunters encountered a grizzly bear at close range. The bear moved away.
Blackfoot/Clearwater/Nevada and Douglas Creek: There have been multiple reports by bow hunters, residents, and recreationists that are seeing grizzly bears in the area. A hunter encountered a female grizzly with cubs on the Blackfoot Game Range, but the family group moved on without incident.
Ovando/Helmville: There are multiple grizzly bears, including females with cubs, in agricultural fields. Residents are asked to carry bear spray and know how to use it.
MOUNTAIN LIONS
Region-wide: There have been reports of mountain lions in several areas. FWP recommends that residents living in mountain lion country with livestock such as sheep, chickens, goats, etc. use electric fence to protect livestock from mountain lions. This is particularly important if you live in a remote area. Electric fencing can be an effective deterrent for mountain lions and bears. There have been reports of mountain lions near residential areas both along the urban wildland interface and in more remote locations.
September 21, 2017
BLACK BEAR
Region-wide: Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks (FWP) is busy with reports of black bears in fruit trees and getting into garbage region-wide. Bears are entering hyperphagia and are feeding excessively to gain weight for winter. If you have not done so yet, now is the time to contain all attractants in a bear-resistant manner. This includes keeping garbage stored in a bear-resistant manner until the morning of pickup. Pick domestic fruit or reach out to groups that can assist, such as the Great Bear Foundation and the Facebook group Missoula Valley Fruit Exchange. Do not have bird feeders out! Bears will start to key into bird feeders and when they see them they will try and get to them. That means bears are going on porches, in backyards, and close to homes. Please bring all bird feeders in. This is a simple solution to a major issue.
Rattlesnake: FWP picked up a deer carcass that three bears were feeding on in a yard. There are multiple bears active in the Rattlesnake. Pick domestic fruit. Bring in bird feeders. Store garbage in a bear-resistant manner until the morning of pickup.
Kelly Island/Big Flat: Residents have seen multiple bears in the area. There have been reports of bears in domestic fruit and getting into uncontained garbage. Please pick domestic fruit and store garbage in a bear-resistant manner until the morning of pickup.
Hayes Creek and O-Brien Creek: FWP has received multiple reports of several black bears that have gotten into uncontained garbage. Please contain garbage in a bear-resistant manner until the morning of pickup.
Grant Creek: Animal Control has issued multiple tickets for garbage left out and accessible to bears.
Pattee Canyon/Far views: There have been reports of bears in fruit trees. Contain all attractants in a bear-resistant manner.
South Hills: There have been reports of bears in fruit trees. Contain all attractants in a bear-resistant manner.
Lolo: Multiple black bears are getting into uncontained garbage and have been seen in domestic fruit trees. Contain all garbage in a bear-resistant manner until the morning of pickup and pick fruit trees.
Bitterroot (West side): There have been frequent calls about bears in garbage at the ends of roads, near bus stops. Do not leave garbage out all week. Keep all garbage contained until the morning of pickup.
Alberton/St. Region/Superior: There have been reports of bears feeding on domestic apples.
Clinton: Black bears have been seen in domestic fruit.
Potomac/Union Creek: Multiple bears have been getting into garbage in an area where residents are leaving out multiple garbage cans all week. Do not put out garbage until the morning of pickup.
Drummond and Hall: Bears have been seen in domestic fruit and agricultural crops.
Georgetown: FWP wardens have been very busy responding to bears getting into garbage. There have been multiple reports of people leaving garbage out on Sunday when they leave their cabin and pickup does not happen until the middle of the week. Multiple black bears have been getting into garbage. FWP is recommending that if you need to leave a cabin on Sunday that you take your garbage with you or store it in a bear-resistant manner until the morning of pickup.
Seeley Lake: FWP wardens have had to relocate 3 black bears and are issuing tickets for attractants (garbage, livestock feed) that are left out and accessible to bears. Contain all garbage in a bear-resistant manner until the morning of pickup. Bring in birdfeeders. Properly installed bear-resistant electric fence is effective at keeping bears out of attractants like chicken coops and livestock feed.
GRIZZLY BEAR
Blackfoot Valley: Grizzly bears have been seen in and around ranches feeding on alfalfa and other crops. A fisherman encountered a female grizzly bear with two young at close range. He had bear spray ready but the female moved away without incident. Bow hunters have also seen grizzly bears at close range. Anyone recreating in bear country should think grizzly, travel with another person when possible, and carry bear spray and know how to use it.
MOUNTAIN LION
Region-wide: FWP continues to get reports of mountain lions near irrigated fields/lawns where deer are congregating.
September 12, 2017
REGION-WIDE: Drought conditions continue. This is the time of year that bear conflicts are highest and the ongoing drought could exacerbate this. If you have not yet been, now is the time to be especially diligent. Bring in bird feeders. Do not leave garbage out and accessible to bears and pick domestic fruit. Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks (FWP) is increasingly fielding calls about black bears in neighborhoods feeding on domestic fruit and finding garbage. Mountain lions have also been seen in areas with irrigated pastures and lawns as deer move into areas where food and water are available.
BLACK BEAR
Rattlesnake: Multiple bears are active and at least two are getting into garbage. A large black bear and another black bear have been seen in and near Greenough Park at all times of day. Be aware of heightened bear activity when recreating in the Rattlesnake, including the numerous parks and trails in neighborhoods. Carry bear spray and know how to use it. There continue to be reports of bears getting into bird feeders as well as people feeding deer. FWP is patrolling and are asking that people bring in bird feeders and report attractants that are left out and accessible to bears. You can report attractants anonymously on www.missoulabears.org. FWP has also fielded reports of a mountain lion, bobcat, and coyotes in the Rattlesnake.
Big Flat/O’Brien and Hayes Creek: There have been multiple reports of black bears feeding on domestic fruit and unfortunately accessing garbage. Contain all garbage in a bear-resistant manner until the morning of pickup and pick domestic fruit.
South Hills/Miller Creek: There have been multiple reports of black bears feeding on domestic fruit and unfortunately accessing garbage. Contain all garbage in a bear-resistant manner until the morning of pickup and pick domestic fruit.
Anaconda/Georgetown: There have been multiple reports of black bears accessing garbage. Contain all garbage in a bear-resistant manner until the morning of pickup.
Seeley Lake: There have been multiple reports of both black bears and grizzly bears getting into garbage. Due to evacuations and fire issues Republic Services has been unable to pick up garbage on a regular basis which has resulted in more garbage out and accessible to bears. FWP is actively working with Republic Services to get the garbage removed. In the meantime, and if possible, contain garbage in a stout building until it can either be picked up or until you can take it to the refuse site.
Lolo: FWP has fielded several calls about multiple black bears in the river bottoms between Miller Creek and Florence and in Lolo. The bears are being seen in domestic fruit trees and have accessed numerous garbage containers. Contain all garbage until the morning of pickup and please pick all apples, particularly any apples adjacent to home sites. The Bitterroot continues to be one of the highest sources of conflicts with black bears due to the large amount of garbage out and available to bears throughout the week.
Lower Six Mile: FWP has fielded reports of a black bear that was eating apples and accessed garbage in the area. This bear also attempted to get into a chicken coop. FWP is monitoring the situation and working with the resident to contain attractants.
GRIZZLY BEAR
Harpers Lake: FWP continues to monitor a family group of grizzly bears that got into garbage. The garbage was secured and the bears have not returned.
Ovando/Helmville: Hunters, firefighters, and residents continue to report grizzly bear activity in agricultural fields. Carry bear spray and know how to use it.
Lincoln: A grizzly bear was reported feeding on hawthorn berries in a backyard. FWP hazed this bear and the bear ran off.
MOUNTAIN LION
Mill Creek: A mountain lion killed a dog. The responding officer euthanized the lion. It was later discovered that the lion had severe burns on the bottom of its feet.
September 6, 2017
BLACK BEAR
Region-wide: Domestic fruit is ripening and bears are keying into this food resource. Unfortunately, some of these bears are also finding unsecured garbage. Please contain all garbage in a bear-resistant manner and pick all fruit as soon as it ripens.
Rattlesnake: There are multiple bears in the neighborhoods feeding on domestic fruit. At least one bear has been seen during all times of day, has gotten into garbage, and entered a garage. Please keep all garage doors closed even if you are home. residents have seen bears during the day in Tom Green and Greenough parks. People should be aware of bear activity in this area. In the Elk Hills area, a black bear approached a dog and the homeowner in the backyard. The resident aversive-conditioned the bear and the bear left. FWP is monitoring this situation. This bear exhibited food conditioned behavior. FWP has received reports of someone feeding turkeys in the area. This is not recommended because it can lure in other wildlife including bears.
Bitterroot: There have been numerous reports of bears in garbage and getting into chicken coops. In the Stevensville area, FWP is attempting to trap a bear that has gotten into chickens.
Blue Mountain and O’Brien Creek: People have seen multiple bears moving through the area. Please contain all attractants in a bear resistant manner and be aware of bear activity while recreating.
GRIZZLY BEAR
Clearwater: A family group of grizzly bears moved through two campgrounds. A bear-resistant dumpster that had a broken latch was tipped over and the bears received a food reward. FWP repaired THE dumpster and the bears have not returned. FWP is monitoring.
Blackfoot and Clearwater: FWP has fielded multiple reports from bow hunters and firefighters of bear activity. Some bears may be displaced from fire, but most bears are coming down where there is water due to drought conditions and the time of year.
MOUNTAIN LION
Region-wide: FWP continues to field reports of lion activity near irrigated pastures and yards. They are likely following deer and elk.
September 1, 2017
BLACK BEARS
Region-wide: As natural foods like chokecherries wane there have been increasing reports of bears in domestic fruit trees and getting into garbage. Please contain all attractants in a bear-resistant manner and pick fruit as soon as it ripens.
Lolo Creek: Bears were frequenting the area feeding on chokecherries. Now that the chokecherries are waning there have been reports of bears getting into garbage. Some of this has been complicated by fire closures, including preventing the normal scheduled pick up of garbage. If possible, please contain garbage in a bear-resistant manner until it can either be picked up or you can remove it to the dump.
Florence: A bear got into a chicken coop. Electric fencing can be an effective deterrent, protecting chickens from bears.
Rattlesnake: Several black bears have been reported feeding on domestic fruit. Please pick fruit as soon as it ripens. Remove fruit that has fallen out of the tree.
Seeley Lake area: There have been several reports of bears getting into garbage in the Seeley area. Some of this has been complicated by fire closures, including preventing the normal scheduled pick up of garbage. If possible, please contain garbage in a bear-resistant manner until it is picked up or you can remove it.
GRIZZLY BEARS
Blackfoot Valley: There have been numerous reports of grizzly bears feeding on chokecherries and agricultural crops in the valley.
Helmville: A report of a grizzly bear livestock depredation was investigated by FWP and turned out to be natural scavenging of a carcass.
MOUNTAIN LIONS
Missoula area: FWP has fielded multiple reports of mountain lion activity near riparian areas, irrigated lawns and crop fields. The dry conditions are concentrating deer near these areas and mountain lions will follow their prey base.
Rattlesnake: FWP continues to monitor reports of mountain lion activity in the Upper Rattlesnake.
Grant Creek: FWP continues to monitor reports of mountain lion activity.