June and July 2026

This update covers information through the month of June through July 2026.
Contact information, FWP Region 2 (R2) Bear Team: fwpr2bearlionreports@mt.gov, 406-542-5500.

TIPS FOR PREVENTING Conflicts with Bears and Mountain Lions

• Please secure all garbage and be diligent at containing any attractants (pet food, compost piles, fruit trees, dirty barbeque grills). Note, bird feeders and humming bird feeders are not recommended between March 31^st and December 1^st.
• Home sites with chickens or small livestock should consider using multi-wire/hot-ground electric fences—lions and bears are both attracted to chickens and other livestock. Contact FWP for more information on the effectiveness of electric fence and check out this FWP guide.
• Bear-resistant cans are not bear-proof. FWP and the garbage companies recommend, when possible, storing bear resistant garbage cans in a locked garbage or shed until the day of pickup.
• Bear activity tends to increase in late summer and fall. Bears are in hyperphagia, eating as much as they can to gain weight for winter. If you do not already have one, bear-resistant garbage cans and dumpsters are available through Republic Services and Grizzly Disposal. If your garbage provider does not have bear-resistant garbage receptacles in their inventory encourage them to provide that option for paying customers.
• If you are seeking information on bears or opportunities for getting involved with local bear awareness neighborhood efforts, contact FWP.
• All outdoor recreationists and people working and living in western Montana should carry bear spray, know how to use it, and be aware that bears can be found in most places.

REGION-WIDE

Mountain Lions: FWP is receiving reports of activity throughout the region. Mountain lions are most common wherever there are elk or deer. As the summer becomes drier and hotter, more deer will seek out green vegetation associated with irrigated crops and residential lawns. As a result, homeowners should expect to see more lion activity.

Mountain lions are territorial with housecats and can be attracted to house cat activity, especially male house cat urine. Please be aware of the risks and consider leaving cats indoors when possible. Mountain lions are also attracted to turkey activity and can be drawn to homes that are feeding wildlife such as turkeys or deer. Remember, feeding and salting for wildlife is illegal in Montana. By luring game to your property, you will also draw in predators and create new travel ways (game trails) onto your property. Report illegal incidents of wildlife feeding or salting to tipmont.mt.gov.

Here are some specific, recent reports of lions in the area:

• FWP fielded reports and received photos of lions passing through or near yards in areas in and around Florence, Seeley Lake, Drummond, Clearwater Junction, Potomac Valley, Clinton, Alberton, Evaro Hill, Bitterroot Valley and Missoula’s Grant Creek, Hellgate Canyon, Orchard Homes and Miller Creek.
• FWP hazed several lions with hounds to get them away from homesites. FWP also received reports of a handful of lion-killed deer that were cached in yards or close to homesites.
• There was information circulating about a mountain lion killing a goat in the Ninemile Valley and another report of a horse being injured by a lion in the Lincoln area. FWP was unable to verify these incidents.
• On July 3^rd, a mountain lion family group killed several geese and house cats in the Miller Creek area and approached a homeowner that was outside their house. FWP responded and euthanized one lion. The neighbor also shot and wounded a second lion that FWP was unable to locate.
• A mountain lion killed a house cat near Alberton. Lions may have killed several cats in the Ninemile Drainage.
• A mountain lion was road-killed on Hwy 141 SE of Helmville and FWP had to destroy a mountain lion that was struck by a vehicle on Highway 93 North on Evaro Hill.
• On July 29^th, a homeowner shot and killed an emaciated mountain lion up Tenmile Creek west of Drummond that was approaching children.

Bears/impact of local natural food failures: Black bears across some areas of R2 are being impacted by what seems to be a significant natural food failure year. Due to the impacts of climate change, this winter’s lower-than-average snowpack and mild winter conditions spring green-up occurred early, and by the time the bears emerged the spring growth was past the “greenup nutritional period.”  We also had multiple late frosts that appear to have impacted local domestic fruit trees and the serviceberry crops in some areas. The huckleberries are also not as abundant as normal in certain regional areas.

This means that bears are more persistent than average in looking for other food sources, which often end up being attractants that are left out around homes (garbage, bird feeders, pet food, etc.). Now is the time to be diligent in securing attractants.

The chokecherry and hawthorn crops along the river and stream systems are ripening and appear to be doing ok at this time. More bears will be accessing these river bottom berries as the summer progresses. Also, residential orchards are reporting frost damage to most domestic apple trees, apricots, pears, and cherry trees. Be aware that trees not impacted by the frosts will lure in bears, so be sure to glean your fruit before bears arrive.

In 2025, natural bear foods were abundant and as a result conflicts were low. This year is different. FWP responded to 272 black bear-related incidents in the last two months, and there were likely many other conflicts that went unreported.

The majority of the black bear incidents have involved females with offspring and young subadult bears that have recently separated from their mother. Older bears, for the time being, due to their experience and knowledge of home range resources, are savvy enough to find a few dependable berry sources and are foraging nonstop while seeking out moist high and low elevation sites for forbs, tearing up woody debris and rolling rocks for grubs and other insects (often near homesites). The younger bears and females with offspring, however, are having a tougher time and are looking for readily available unnatural foods such as irrigated crops and lawns, garbage, bird feeders, pet and livestock feed, and homesites with chickens.

Some of the black bears have even been tipping over/testing and successfully accessing bear-resistant garbage cans. FWP and the garbage companies recommend storing bear-resistant garbage cans in a locked garbage or shed until the day of pickup. 

At this time, it appears that grizzly bears may have found more reliable food sources or developed different feeding strategies that are allowing them to access better high yield natural food sources. This could change in upcoming months.

SPECIFIC BLACK-BEAR REPORTS & CONFLICTS

Alberton & Petty Creek

• Several reports of black bears getting into attractants, especially in Petty Creek.
• Reports of two orphaned cubs-of-the-year. In the last update FWP assisted a landowner with a female with cubs that was getting into garbage and other attractants. This female may have been killed. FWP is investigating.
• The chokecherry and hawthorn crops in and around Alberton are now ripe and homeowners should expect to see increased bear activity soon.
• Alberton is working toward becoming a “bear smart community” and recently received grant funds to purchase bear-resistant cans and contain residential attractants.
• Joining Bear Smart Alberton is a great way to get more involved in making the Alberton area a safer place for both people and bears. Check out the Bear Smart Alberton Facebook Page.

Anaconda, Georgetown, Philipsburg, & Butte

• Residents and recreators have been seeing black bears throughout the area. Several black bears have accessed garbage in and around the towns of Anaconda and Georgetown Lake.
• On June 14^th, a black bear hunter shot and killed a female with two cubs in self-defense at Page Lake in the Anaconda Pintler Wilderness.
• As the summer progresses, residents should expect that additional bears will seek out residential attractants. There are abundant uncontained residential attractants in the Butte, Anaconda, Lost Creek, and Georgetown Lake areas. Please contain all attractants to prevent conflicts.
• FWP and NGO groups are working closely with Anaconda Disposal on solutions for reducing the amount of unsecured garbage. Similar efforts are occurring in Georgetown Lake and Philipsburg.
• FWP has also offered technical guidance to the Anaconda Urban Wildlife Task Force on proposed developments and ways to address unsecured attractants at Washoe Park.

Drummond Area

• A black bear was observed near an unsecured chicken coop in Bear Creek upstream from Bearmouth. FWP assisted the resident with installing an electric fence.

Bitterroot Valley

• An exceptional natural bear food failure is occurring in the Bitterroot Valley. Much of the bear population from the Bitterroot Range and the Sapphire Range are in the lower elevation foothills, creek bottoms, and along the Bitterroot River looking for food.
• Most of the conflicts occur at home sites and garbage collection sites in the timbered foothills, along the side drainages and at sites adjacent to the river.
• Bears are being reported grazing on lawns, scattering garbage at communal collection sites, and walking on porches for bird feeders, pet food, BBQs and freezers.
• The areas being most affected are: 1) The Florence area in 8 Mile Creek, Woodchuck Creek, and Bull Run and El Capitan Loop Roads; 2) The Stevensville area in N and S Kootenai and Wakantanka Way roads; 3) The Victor area in Bear Creek, Gash Creek, Fred Burr and Red Crow Road: 4) The Hamilton Area around Roaring Lion Creek and Grubstake Road; 5) The Darby area around Lake Como, Hidden Trail, Mountain Road and Waddel Lane; 6) and the Westfork of the Bitterroot around Alta and Painted Rocks Campground and Hughes Creek.
• FWP has set up multiple traps and relocated bears.
• Orphaned cubs have been reported near Chief Looking Glass campground. FWP was unable to locate the cubs.
• On June 29^th, in Granite Creek off the 8 Mile Road, a female black bear was killed by a homeowner. Two cubs were orphaned. Luckily, FWP was able to capture the cubs, and they were taken to the Helena black bear rehabilitation facilities. The two cubs will be going to a zoo in Florida. FWP helped arrange for the homeowner to electrify his chicken coop via an electric fence incentive program.
• Multiple chicken coops in the valley have been damaged by bears. FWP recommends that all chicken and small livestock along the urban wildlands interface be secured with multi-wire/hot-ground electric fence.
• The bear manager and wardens are working with several citizen groups interested in becoming “bear smart”. The bear manager is also working with Bitterroot Disposal and the Bitterroot Bear Resources working group to supply bear-resistant garbage cans, dumpsters and build community bear-resistant garbage enclosures at various communal garbage collection sites.
• When camping in bear country citizens should practice “bear smart” recommendations and follow national forest food order guidelines. Visit the Bitterroot National Forest Food Storage Order for more information. 

Blackfoot-Clearwater Drainages

• Black bears passing through have been observed on multiple game and ring cameras. Please be patient with the bears and take the necessary steps to contain residential attractants and garbage. This fall there could be a surge of black bear activity. Now is a good time to prepare and contain attractants.
• Black bears have accessed garbage and been observed grazing on watered lawns near the old Blackfoot Tavern, Cambridge Lane, River Bend, Rainbow Bend, Twin Creek, Wisherd Bridge, and Gold Creek.
• On July 16^th, FWP got a report of a wounded black bear in the Cambridge Lane area. FWP responded but was not able to locate the bear.
• Potomac and Greenough: Serviceberries and huckleberries are sparse. Several black bears have been reported in yards and accessing garbage up Bear Creek. A black bear broke into a garbage shed in the Forest Park area. Several bears have accessed uncontained garbage up Camas Creek and at a residence near Copper Cliffs. A black bear accessed uncontained garbage at the Junction of Union Creek and Hole in the Wall. Several black bears have been observed near resort cabins in the Ninemile Prairie. FWP is investigating the possible poaching of a female black bear with cubs in the Bear Creek area.
• Black bears have been observed traveling past yards, hunting fawns, and feeding on natural foods throughout the Clearwater Valley.
• Two black bears have been actively seeking out garbage cans, bird feeders, pet food, and accessed a chicken coop in and around Seeley Lake and the Double Arrow subdivision. One bear was on multiple porches seeking out bird feeders and testing window screens. On one occasion the bear stepped into a house with an open door. The occupants yelled and the bear ran off. The same bear also tipped over a smoker, several BBQs, and got into a dumpster at Pop’s restaurant. On July 24^th this bear ripped a window screen and broke out a window in a vehicle with garbage on Overland Trail. FWP is trying to trap this bear. Be sure to keep doors and windows always closed on garages and houses.
• Black bears reported at Placid Lake Park and at least one bear has been visiting cabins on the north and south shores tipping over garbage cans and BBQs. This same bear damaged a window on one of the cabins.
• On June 22^nd, a black bear swam out to Sourdough Island on Salmon Lake and spent the day near a resort cabin.
• A bear was reported in the Sawyer Creek area investigating a garbage trailer. Residents observed bears rolling rocks and tearing into wood debris and feeding on the sparse serviceberry in proximity to homes.
• Ovando/Helmville area: Black bears have been observed in the area but there have been only a handful of incidents with garbage and other attractants.
• FWP set a trap for a black bear in Lincoln that was roosting in a tree next to a chicken coop. A black bear has been accessing garbage cans along C Street. A black bear has been accessing garbage at the Sleepy Hollow Trailer Court. FWP supplied the trailer court with bear-resistant garbage cans. Lincoln has a long history of bears and lions getting into chicken coops and garbage.
• Now is a good time to prepare for the arrival of black bears in the late summer. Bear-resistant garbage cans and dumpsters are available through the Blackfoot Challenge.

East Missoula, Milltown, Bonner & Piltzville

• Multiple bears have been accessing garbage, bird feeders, and other attractants, especially in various trailer parks.
• A black bear accessed garbage at the Deer Creek Shooting Range.

Evaro Hill

• Black bears have been observed in the area but there have been no reported incidents yet with garbage and other attractants.
• There have been several reports of an individual feeding bears off Ryans Lane. FWP is investigating the reports.

Garrison Junction, Little Blackfoot drainage & Deer Lodge Valley

• The chokecherry and hawthorn crops along the Clark Fork River and Little Blackfoot River and the juniper on hillsides are just now ripening. Homeowners should expect to see increased bear activity. Now, is a good time to prepare for the arrival of bears in the late summer.
• On July 1^st, a black bear damaged beehives in the Deer Lodge Valley up Dempsy Creek. FWP offered to help install electric fencing.
• At Garrison Junction multiple bears are accessing uncontained butcher scraps at a meat processing business. FWP and business are exploring methods of containment.

Grant Creek & Butler Creek

• Multiple lone black bears and at least two females with offspring have been observed feeding on natural foods. Bears are foraging on the limited serviceberry crops and rolling rocks and logs for insects. Low elevation huckleberries are sparse.
• On July 2^nd, a black bear got into uncontained garbage and investigated a chicken coop up Butler Creek. FWP recommended erecting electric fence around the chicken coop.
• In the upper Grant Creek residential area multiple bears have been observed near a homesite that has fed bears in the past. FWP is investigating.
• A black bear was reported testing bear-resistant cans up Colorado Gulch.
• On July 16^th, a black bear entered an open garage in Grant Creek and retrieved a bucket of bird seed. FWP recommends that garages always be locked up.
• On July 19^th, a black bear with cubs accessed chicken feed and chased chickens at a residence in Butler Creek. FWP assisted the homeowner with a temporary electric fence.
• Black bear garbage-related conflicts have been minimal in the last two years but issues with chicken coops and free ranging chickens are on the rise.

Hayes Creek, Hwy 93 south corridor, Lolo & Lolo creek

• Black bears continue to access garbage at homesites between Missoula and Lolo. Multiple black bears have acquired uncontained garbage and bird feeders at homesites near Buckhouse Bridge, Hayes Creek, Dead Man Gulch and Moe Gulch. Black bears have also been accessing residential attractants along Hwy 12 upstream from Lolo. Trailer courts in this area have had chronic issues with bears accessing garbage for many years.
• A black bear accessed a freezer stored under a porch up Hayes Creek. Outside freezers and iceboxes are not recommended.
• On June 8^th, a black bear got into a chicken coop and accessed uncontained garbage and pulled down bird feeders at a residence near Moe Gulch.
• A black bear accessed an improperly locked bear-resistant dumpster at the USFS Lolo Creek Campground.
• A black bear was accessing garbage at several places at a food establishment up Graves Creek. On July 13^th, the same bear was shot and killed by a homeowner after the bear was chasing free-ranging chickens and accessing an open barn for livestock feed.

Pattee Canyon & Miller Creek

• On July 6^th, FWP assisted the Bear Run Creek residents in upper Miller Creek with bear issues. The bears were accessing a row of uncontained garbage cans. Republic Services and Grizzly Disposal delivered bear-resistant cans.

Rattlesnake Drainage & University

• There was only one report of a bear in the University District and a few observations of bears along the Clark Fork River in Hellgate Canyon.
• At least five bears were observed in the Rattlesnake Valley residential area. Two of these bears, a larger brown/reddish phase and smaller black/brown phase males, have been visiting back yards in search of bird feeders and tipping/testing and successfully accessing a few Kodiak and Toter bear-resistant garbage cans.
• At least one chicken coop was damaged by a bear. FWP recommends electric fence for fowl and small livestock.

Orchard Homes, Big Flat, Grass Valley

• Black bears have been observed throughout the area. FWP has fielded reports of bears getting into several chicken coops, bird feeders and uncontained garbage, especially in the Grass Valley near Harpers Bridge and Mallard Way. Garbage and chicken coops have also been an issue in O’Brien Creek. There were multiple reports of a brown phase female black bear with cubs in the McClay Flat area that were mistakenly reported as grizzlies.

Ninemile Valley

• A handful of bears getting into chicken coops, bird feeders and uncontained garbage.
• If you are interested in getting more involved with bear awareness in the Ninemile Valley visit the Ninemile Bear Aware website.

Frenchtown Area

• A handful of bears getting into chicken coops, bird feeders and uncontained garbage.
• On the south side of I-90 in the vicinity of Bryce Putman Drive there were reports of a female with cubs and a lone black bear accessing uncontained garbage.

Superior, St. Regis & Lower Clark Fork

• There have been a handful of reports of bears accessing uncontained garbage, bird feeders, chickens, and pet and livestock feed.
• On June 30^th, a black bear was reported climbing on a camper’s vehicle during the night up Big Creek near Haugan.
• If you are interested in tackling bear attractant issues in the communities of Superior, St Regis, Haugan, Saltese, or De Borgia contact FWP R2 and check out the IGBC Bear Smart Communities website.

Turah, Clinton, Rock Creek & Beavertail Hill

• Black bear issues in and around the community of Clinton have increased due to poor natural bear foods and abundant residential attractants.
• Over the years, Donovan and Wallace Creeks and the town of Clinton have had chronic issues with black bears accessing uncontained garbage, bird feeders, pet and livestock feed, chicken coops and other residential attractants. One black bear was trapped and relocated out of Clinton. On July 8^th, a black bear entered a Wallace Creek resident’s garage where the person was working on their vehicle. This bear was trapped and euthanized.
• A black bear got into garbage at Poor Henrys Bar and adjacent residents,
• Donovan Creek has had chronic attractant issues for years. Multiple bears have been accessing garbage, bird feeders, and other attractants. FWP is working with a trailer court owner in Donovan Creek to mitigate garbage issues. Traps were set for a black bear that entered two homes in lower Donovan Creek. The bear was not captured. A black bear was road-killed on I90 near the Donovan Creek Bridge.
• On June 9^th, a young male black bear was euthanized by FWP after it ripped and attempted entry into an occupied tent at Beavertail Hill Park.
• In Rock Creek a black bear has been accessing uncontained garbage, bird feeders, chicken coops, and other attractants.
• FWP assisted a landowner with an electrified ground pad to deter a female with cubs that was accessing a large amount of stale bread that was being used to feed cows.

SPECIFIC GRIZZLY BEAR ACTIVITY

Clearwater Valley:

• Multiple grizzlies were photographed on game cameras in the Placid Lake and Seeley Lake area.
• On July 13^th, a grizzly accessed uncontained garbage from the back of an ATV near a home north of Seeley Lake.
• Lone grizzlies have been photographed on four occasions passing through Seeley Lake along the Clearwater River outlet, Morrell Creek, and outskirts of town. A female grizzly with cubs was observed twice west of town. Grizzlies travel through and around Seeley Lake on a regular basis in the spring, summer, and fall. Grizzlies are often observed on game cameras following the shoreline of Seeley Lake and the banks of Morrel Creek, Trail Creek, and the Clearwater River.
• On July 28^th, a grizzly was able to dig under an electric fence and access a carcass composting facility near Clearwater Junction. FWP, MDOT, and the Blackfoot Challenge repaired the fence and erected a temporary 2^nd hot-ground/multiwire fence around the perimeter to deter the bear.
• On July 28^th, a grizzly killed multiple ducks on the north end of Seeley Lake. FWP made arrangements with the landowner and the Wildlife Services Conflict Reduction Program to erect an electric fence.

Huson/Frenchtown Area:

• Grizzly bear activity continues to be reported in the Ninemile Valley west of Missoula. As mentioned in the last update, a young male grizzly was shot and killed on May 20^th at a residence with free-ranging chickens in the Sixmile Drainage near Huson.
• More recently, a lone grizzly has been reported on several occasions in the Ninemile Drainage and there have been reports of an unverified female grizzly with cubs at various sites.
• On June 30^th, a large adult male was photographed crossing a meadow system in upper Mill Creek north of Frenchtown.

Lubrecht Experimental Forest/Potomac Area:

• Grizzly bears have been observed on several occasions in the Ninemile Prairie in the Blackfoot Valley.
• On June 9^th, a grizzly bear was photographed passing through the Lubrecht campus/pavilion, and on June 16^th a grizzly bear was photographed passing through the Potomac Valley.
• There was a report of a female grizzly with two cubs in lower Twin Creek, however the family was ultimately identified as black bear.

Lincoln Area:

• Multiple grizzlies have been reported in the Lincoln area. On June 1^st, FWP responded to a report of a person with multiple bird feeders east of town that had attracted several black bears and a grizzly bear. The resident was asked to remove the bird feeders.
• On June 8^th, a black bear hunter had a sudden encounter with a grizzly bear and shot in the air in upper Toms Creek. The bear left the area immediately.
• An adult male was photographed on a game camera on the north side of town.
• On July 12^th, a female grizzly with offspring was encountered by a mountain biker up Bartlett Creek. The bears immediately left the area.

Ovando & Helmville Areas:

• Grizzly bears are common throughout the area, and FWP fielded multiple reports from recreationists and ranchers of grizzly activity throughout the Valley. On June 22^nd, a grizzly was observed passing through a residential construction site in Clear Creek southeast of Helmville.
• Several adult female grizzlies with offspring have been observed in the meadows along Nevada Creek.
• On July 4^th, a grizzly bear was observed feeding on a calf carcass near Marcum Mountain. It appeared that the calf had died of natural causes.
• On July 27^th, Wildlife Services investigated a cow carcass near the Aunt Molly Wildlife Refuge that was being fed on by multiple grizzly bears. The agent determined the cow had died of natural causes.

Missoula Five Valleys area:

• The Missoula North Hills are now considered to be within occupied grizzly bear habitat (habitat with a resident reproducing population). A grizzly was photographed by a game camera in Upper LaValle Creek on June 2^nd. Between June 6^th and June 12^th a mating pair of grizzly bears were observed on multiple occasions in Butler Creek and Grant Creek. The bears were close to home sites but did not access any garbage or chicken coops.
• In the last ten years grizzlies have also been documented in Miller Creek, Pattee Canyon, Bonner and Blue Mountain areas, although these sightings are less common. There were several reports of a grizzly bear family group in the McClay Flats/Blue Mountain area this summer, but it was determined by FWP that these were black bears and not grizzlies.

Upper Clark Fork Basin and Butte area:

• On June 21^st, a grizzly was verified in the Flint Creek Range near Gold Creek. Grizzly bear activity has become commonplace in the last decade.
• On July 29^th, a grizzly bear was verified in the Elk Park area north of Butte.

Bitterroot Valley:

• FWP has received multiple reports of brown phase black bears that were mistaken for grizzlies. In the Kootenai Creek area, for example, social media was abuzz about two sub adult grizzlies in the area. FWP determined that these were black bears and not grizzlies.
• Although no grizzly activity was verified in the Bitterroot Valley in June and July, there was one highly probable report of a grizzly in Sapphire Range east of Stevensville. Grizzlies have frequented the Bitterroot Valley in the last decade and been observed in the Sapphire Mountains and the Big Hole Valley.