This update covers information through the month of April 2026.
Contact information: FWP Region 2 (R2) Bear Team: fwpr2bearlionreports@mt.gov, 406-542-5500.
REGION-WIDE
Grizzly Bear: During the month of April grizzly bear activity was reported by residents, ranchers, recreationists, and black bear hunters throughout the Blackfoot and Clearwater Drainages. A grizzly bear depredation involving a cow and two calves occurred in the Avon area. Wildlife Services is monitoring the situation. A grizzly bear was reported visiting home sites along the edges of Seeley Lake. The bear accessed a bird feeder and tipped over a BBQ at one residence. Bird seed, suet, and hummingbird nectar are highly valued by bears and will lure them onto your property. FWP recommends that bird feeders be removed from April 1 through December 1. BBQs are also a big lure for bears. Please store BBQs in a locked building when not in use.
A grizzly bear was videoed feeding on a carcass in Canyon Creek south of Lincoln. A grizzly bear was photographed and tracks were reported in Missoula’s North Hills. FWP has fielded multiple reports of at least two different grizzlies in the Ninemile Valley west of Missoula. No grizzly activity has been reported in the Bitterroot, Deer Lodge, or Big Hole Valleys yet this season. Remember, as the summer progresses, outdoor recreationists should carry bear spray and be aware that grizzly bears are slowly expanding into historic ranges across R2.
Black Bear: Black bear hunting season started April 15th and closes June 15th. A few bears were harvested in April, but hunter success will increase through the month of May when breeding season starts. For more information on spring black bear hunting in Montana, see the 2026 Black Bear Hunting Regulations.
FWP fielded a handful of black bear observations in early April. Beginning in the middle of the month, FWP saw an influx of activity along with a few conflicts. Several black bears were reported accessing uncontained garbage on Mallard Way and the Harpers Bridge Road west of Missoula along the Clark Fork River.
A female black bear was darted and relocated on April 29th after it became disoriented and ended up on Missoula’s North Reserve Street near the TJ Maxx store. A black bear was observed roosting in a tree in Missoula’s Greenough Park and was also observed in Tom Green Park. The same bear may have got into a front yard library stand to access dog treats.
A black bear was videoed in a yard in Petty Creek near Alberton feeding on an old goat carcass. A black bear accessed garbage stored in a vehicle at a homesite in Bear Creek west of Drummond. The bear also checked out an electrified chicken coop and left paw prints on several vehicles. FWP is monitoring the situation.
Black bear activity involving uncontained garbage has been reported along the St Mary and McCalla Roads in the Bitterroot Valley.
Game wardens had to euthanize a black bear at a Silver Lake Residence near Georgetown Lake after it came on the porch and damaged the house in its search for bird seed. If you have not yet done so, now is the time to take down bird feeders.
Once bears begin accessing bird seed, any future issues with bears at that home site involving a bird feeder are considered a wildlife violation. In Montana it is illegal to salt and/or feed wildlife. Bear activity in the lower elevations is expected to increase during the month of May. Please be diligent at managing residential attractants. Pet food, chicken feed, and livestock feed should be stored in a stout building or contained within a steel box or barrel with a locking lid, and be sure to close garage doors. Garbage should be stored inside a building, or inside a bear-resistant enclosure, rack, garbage can or dumpster. Bear-resistant garbage cans and dumpsters are available through Grizzly Disposal, Republic Services, Bitterroot Disposal, and other sanitation companies. If bear-resistant options are not available, encourage your local disposal companies to offer options for bear-resistant roll outs and dumpsters. If you are interested in building a bear-resistant enclosure or garbage rack, contact FWP.
Small livestock and chicken coops can be protected with a properly installed bear-resistant electric fence. Electric fence is an excellent method of containing attractants, fruit trees, and small livestock. For more information on electric fence visit the FWP Be Bear Aware website. There are technical and financial resources available, for installing a bear-resistant electric fence. Check out more information at Missoula Bears Attractant Management. Additionally, check out these two sites on electric fence: Defenders of Wildlife’s How to Install an Electric Fence to Prevent Bear Conflicts video and People and Carnivores electric fencing for bear deterrence information.
Mountain Lion: As usual, FWP is receiving reports of mountain lion activity throughout the region in residential and agricultural areas. Mountain lions are most common wherever there are elk or deer. Lions were videoed in backyards in Seeley Lake and the Ninemile Valley. A lion reportedly killed several deer in a residential area in Missoula’s Rattlesnake residential area, however FWP investigated the carcasses and determined the deer had been killed by coyotes and not a lion.
A landowner up Skalkaho Creek in the Bitterroot Valley shot a lion that killed several goats and a duck. Electric fence is an excellent way to protect fowl and small livestock. As the summer progresses and more deer seek out green vegetation associated with irrigated crops and yard lawns, expect to see lion activity. Remember, feeding and salting for wildlife is illegal in Montana. By luring big game to your property, you will also draw in predators. Report illegal incidents of wildlife feeding or salting to TIP-MONT at tipmont.mt.gov. Again, remember, wherever you see turkey, deer, elk, or moose activity, expect mountain lions to be in the vicinity.
Missoula Bear Buffer Zone: Phase 3 of the Missoula garbage ordinance went into effect April 30, 2026. All garbage within Phase 1, Phase 2, and Phase 3 of the Missoula Bear Buffer Zone is now required to be stored in a bear-resistant manner. Local haulers will be rolling out bear-resistant garbage containers to customers. It will take a while for all customers in Phase 3 to have a bear-resistant container due to inventory. If you know you have bears active in your neighborhood let your local hauler know to prioritize your location for the bear-resistant garbage container.
Be aware that with the new garbage ordinance going into effect in Phase 3, Missoula residents may see an influx of individual bears breaking and entering sheds and garages because of bears escalating their attempts to access garbage. After years of accessing uncontained garbage, certain bears may show extreme behaviors associated with food-conditioning and will have to be managed. Individual bears exhibiting extreme behaviors will be trapped, relocated or destroyed depending on the circumstances. Please let FWP know immediately if bears break into any sheds, buildings, or homes. Over time, this type of behavior should disappear in the bear population, except in years when bears are suffering from an extreme natural food-failure year. The key is to be vigilant and follow bear smart community guidelines.
For information on the Bear Buffer Zone and the Missoula Garbage Ordinance, go to the Missoula Bears Bear Smart Missoula – Missoula Bears or the Bear Smart Missoula | Missoula County Voice. If you want to see if your house is within the Missoula Bear Buffer Zone check out the Missoula County Property Information System.
Attention: Most bear-resistant cans, dumpsters, and structures that are accessed by bears are due to human error and improper latching, but occasionally bear-resistant receptacles are purposely disabled. This type of vandalism can lead to ticketing. If you expect any tampering to bear-resistant garbage receptacles, please contact FWP R2 or Missoula Animal Control.