July 1, 2024
REGION-WIDE
Grizzly Bear: FWP is receiving reports of grizzly bear activity throughout the Clearwater and Blackfoot Drainages. There have been no recent reports of grizzly bear activity in the Bitterroot Valley or the Missoula area, but there have been multiple grizzly tracks and photos verified in the Ninemile Valley west of Missoula, the Big Hole Valley, the Georgetown Lake area, and there have been multiple reports near Garrison Junction and other portions of the Deer Lodge Valley. Grizzly bears are slowly expanding into historic ranges.
Black Bear: Two orphaned black bear cubs from last fall, that spent the winter at the Helena Rehabilitation Center, were re-released into the upper reaches of Rock Creek in mid-June. Black bear activity has been constant throughout Region 2 (R2) and there have been multiple incidents of black bears accessing garbage, bird feeders, chicken feed, and other attractants. Please contain all attractants in a bear-resistant manner and remove all bird feeders. Do not leave your garage doors open and keep garbage contained until the morning of garbage pickup. Bear-resistant garbage cans are available through Grizzly Disposal, Republic Services, Anaconda Disposal and Granite County Disposal.
Natural bear foods have been abundant throughout R2 due to frequent rains. FWP has fielded many reports of bears hunting for fawns and elk calves. Due to the low snow pack this year, there are concerns for drought conditions later in the summer and fall. Currently the natural berry production appears to be doing okay. Some of the late frosts and late spring snow did damage the berry crops in certain areas. Serviceberries and low elevation huckleberries will be ripening soon. Chokecherries and hawthorn will be ripening in the late summer. The most reliable berry shrub-crops (chokecherry and hawthorn) start ripening in August through September in the riparian zones along the major river and stream courses and FWP is predicting an upsurge of bear activity at that time.
Mountain Lion: FWP is continuing to receive reports of mountain lion activity throughout the region. Wherever you see deer or elk activity expect mountain lions to be in the vicinity. As the summer progresses and the surrounding mountains become drier there may be an influx of lion activity in residential areas and agricultural areas where lawns and irrigated crops attract elk and deer.
Missoula Bear Buffer Zone: Note, all garbage must be stored in a bear-resistant manner within Phase 1 geography of the new Missoula Bear Buffer Zone. Be aware, that with the new garbage ordinance going into effect, Missoula residents in the Phase 1 portions of the buffer zone, may be seeing an influx of bear activity. Individual bears may escalate their attempts to access garbage. Please let FWP know immediately if bears break into any sheds, building, or homes. After years of accessing uncontained garbage, certain bears may show extreme behaviors, associated with food-conditioning, and will have to be removed. For information on the Bear Buffer Zone and the Missoula Garbage Ordinance go to the Missoula Bears Community Resources page.
While hiking and working in bear country carry bear spray. 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. Note: several moose have been spotted in and around recreation areas around Missoula. When hiking and jogging be aware and avoid surprising wildlife, especially deer, elk, and moose with newborns.
ALBERTON
Black Bear: There was a report of a black bear investigating several home sites for garbage. Several black bears have been observed hunting fawns near home sites. Please contain garbage in a bear-resistant manner and take down bird feeders.
ANACONDA AND GEORGETOWN
Grizzly Bear: Grizzly bear activity has been verified in the Georgetown Lake area. Please contain all attractants and report any observations of grizzly bears to FWP.
Black Bear: A black bear damaged a vehicle at Silver Lake and there have been multiple incidents of bears getting into unsecured trash and bird feeders around Georgetown Lake. A black bear got into unsecured garbage in Anaconda. Please contain all attractants and remove bird feeders.
BITTERROOT
Grizzly Bear: There have been no recent reports of grizzly bear activity in the Bitterroot Valley since the last update, but there have been a handful of verified sighting and tracks in the Big Hole Valley and North Fork of the Salmon River southeast and south of Lost Trail Ski area.
Black Bear: There have been multiple incidents of black bears accessing bird feeders, garbage, and chicken coops. Two black bears were shot and killed by a landowner at a chicken coop on the east side of the valley. FWP and Wildlife Services are working with the landowner on an electric fence. A black bear damaged a vehicle in the Indian Prairie area. The bear was trapped and relocated. Traps were set for a black bear that entering garages and accessed bird feeders in the Hamilton area. A black bear was getting into bird feeders in the Bass Creek area. Several black bears were accessing uncontained garbage and checking out porches for bird feeders in the Darby area. A black bear broke into a back porch for garbage and accessed uncontained garbage at other houses in upper the Upper Woodchuck Creek area east of Florence. Bears have been accessing uncontained garbage in the Tie Chute, and Pinesdale areas. A black bear was road-killed on Hwy 93 in May near Woodside. FWP is expecting an increase in calls of black bears getting into garbage and of bears on porches in the lower elevations as serviceberries begin to ripen. Please take down bird feeders, electrify chicken coops, and contain all attractants in a bear-resistant manner. Bear-resistant garbage cans are available through Bitterroot Disposal. For more information on bears in the Bitterroot Valley check out the Bitterroot Bears site.
Mountain Lion: Lions are common throughout the Bitterroot Valley and FWP has fielded multiple reports of lion activity in the river bottoms and along the foothills. A mountain lion was hit by a vehicle and severely wounded in the Darby area. FWP tracked down and euthanized the lion. A deer carcass was removed, and a mountain lion was hazed by FWP southeast of Florence in the Hidden Valley area, after there were reports of missing house cats.
BLACKFOOT-CLEARWATER
Grizzly Bear: There have been reports of grizzly bears in the vicinity of Seeley Lake and there was a report of a female grizzly with yearlings passing through the upper reaches of the Double Arrow Resort. There have been multiple reports of grizzlies in and around the Lincoln area. Multiple grizzly bears have been observed in the Ovando/Helmville Valley. Two sub adult grizzly bears were trapped northeast of Ovando. The siblings were feeding in an alfalfa field adjacent to homesites. The bears were collared for research and relocated to remote sites within their home range. A female grizzly with cubs-of-the- year was observed killing a newborn elk calf on the edge of Helmville. FWP is monitoring the bear. A sub adult grizzly bear entered the MDOT Carcass Composting Facilities at Clearwater Junction. FWP turned off the electric fence and opened the gates. The bear left the site that evening. There was a report of a grizzly bear scavenging dead livestock carcasses in the Ovando Area. If you have a horse or cow carcass that needs to be removed in the Blackfoot Drainage, contact the Blackfoot Challenge. For information, go to the Blackfoot Challenges Carcass Pickup Program site.
Black Bear: Several black bears are accessing garbage and bird seed in Seeley Lake. Warning tickets were issues to several residences that have had chronic issues with uncontained garbage in the community of Seeley Lake. A female black bear with cubs has been observed on multiple occasions hunting fawns on the Double Arrow Resort. Traps were set for a lone black bear and a female with two yearlings in Lincoln. The lone bear did break into one residence and was later harvested by a hunter. The female was breaking into sheds to access garbage. Black bears have been visiting a church camp near Clearwater Junction. FWP is working with the camp on securing the garbage site. Please take down all bird feeders and contain garbage in a bear-resistant manner. A black bear was road-killed on Hwy 200 near the Arrastra Creek Bridge.
Mountain Lion: Lions are common throughout the Blackfoot and Clearwater Drainages. FWP has fielded multiple reports of lion activity throughout the area. Two family groups of lions, travelling together, have been spotted on several occasions in the Sunset Hill area.
EAST MISSOULA, MILLTOWN, BONNER
Black Bear: There were multiple reports of a bear accessing porches and accessing garbage in East Missoula. A trap was set near the Sha-Ron River Access Point and a black bear was captured and relocated. A black bear broke into a chicken coop in lower Marshall Creek. A bear has been accessing uncontained garbage at several trailer courts and a homesite in the Milltown and Piltsville areas. FWP encourages residents with chickens to erect electric fencing. Black bears have also been accessing uncontained garbage in Milltown and Bonner. Please, contain all garbage in a bear-resistant manner until the morning of pickup and remove all bird feeders.
GRANT CREEK
Black Bear: Black bears continue to access bird seed in the upper reaches of Grant Creek. Please keep all garbage contained in a bear-resistant manner and take down all bird feeders. There have been multiple reports of bears hunting for fawns near homesites.
GRASS VALLEY
Black Bear: A black bear was trapped and relocated from a residence near Harpers Bridge. The bear was accessing cat food and chicken feed. For pre-emptive reasons the bear was trapped and relocated to a remote site. A black bear has been accessing uncontained garbage in the King Ranch area. If you are living at a residence and have small livestock and lots of uncontained attractants and are interested in an electrified residential-containment fence, contact FWP for information on several electric fence incentive programs.
LOLO
Black Bear: A black bear accessed garbage at the Lee Creek Campground. The dumpster was repaired. Multiple bears have been accessing garbage and unprotected bee yards and chicken coops in Lolo area. FWP is monitoring several black bears that have been up on porches in Mormon Creek and Sleeman Gulch. A female with a lone cub has been getting into garbage on Bird Lane. Please take down bird feeders and contain all other attractants.
MILLER CREEK
Black Bear: Several bears have been reported getting into chicken coops. Please erect electric fence around chickens and other small livestock.
Mountain Lion: Lions are common throughout Miller Creek. FWP has fielded multiple reports of lion activity throughout the area.
MISSOULA
Black Bear: Black bears continue to access garbage in the Rattlesnake residential area, East Missoula, Bonner and in the South Hills. Please contain garbage in a bear-resistant manner until the morning of pickup. Bear-resistant garbage cans are available through Republic Services and Grizzly Disposal. In the Rattlesnake Drainage, as folks have cleaned up and contained garbage many of the black bears have escalated their attempts to access garbage. As a result, several bears started breaking and entering homes and garages and had to be trapped and were not relocated. FWP set traps and euthanized a female black bear and her two yearlings and trapped a lone bear that had entered and damaged multiple homes in the Rattlesnake Drainage. All four bears had been frequenting homeless camps and were involved in multiple home and apartment complex issues. Once a bear starts testing doors or entering homes and vehicles they are removed from the population. Since the removal of these bears, conflicts in the Rattlesnake have reduced. Several black bears have been reported in the Missoula South Hills accessing uncontained garbage. FWP is expecting an upsurge of black bear activity in the Rattlesnake Drainage when the serviceberry ripens. Please let FWP know immediately if a bear breaks into any sheds or buildings and be diligent with containing attractants to prevent bears from becoming food-conditioned to unnatural foods.
NINEMILE
Grizzly Bear: The Ninemile Valley has several resident grizzly bears. A grizzly bear was photographed in the foothills north of the Ninemile Ranger Station and there have been several reports of tracks.
Black Bear: There have been a handful of reports of bears investigating residential areas for garbage. Several black bears have been observed hunting fawns near homesites. Please contain garbage in a bear-resistant manner and take down bird feeders.
Mountain Lion: Lions are common throughout the Ninemile Drainage. FWP has fielded multiple reports of lion activity throughout the area.
POTOMAC
Grizzly Bear: There has been no grizzly bear activity reported in the area yet. Last year there were multiple grizzly bears accessing uncontained garbage. Several grizzly bears have been observed in the Elk Creek area east of the Lubrecht Experimental Forest.
Black Bear: Black bears have been accessing garbage at various sites in the Potomac area. Please keep all garbage contained in a bear-resistant manner and take down all bird feeders. For more information on the Potomac Valley Bear Mitigation area and county garbage ordinance check out the Bear Smart Missoula website.
Mountain Lion: Lions are common throughout the Potomac Valley. FWP has fielded multiple reports of lion activity throughout the area. A lion was observed in the Bear Creek area investigating a chicken coop. The owners erected an electric fence.
SUPERIOR
Black Bear: Several bears have been reported getting into garbage and chicken coops. Please contain garbage and erect electric fence around chickens and other small livestock.
TURAH AND CLINTON
Black Bear: Multiple black bears were getting into garbage at a trailer court. FWP worked with management and the site now has a bear-resistant dumpster. A black bear has been getting into bird feeders and garbage in the Clinton area. Please contain garbage in a bear-resistant manner and do not put out until the morning of pickup. Take down bird feeders and contain all other attractants.
