This update covers information from January 2026 through March 2026.
Contact information, FWP Region 2 (R2) Bear Team: fwpr2bearlionreports@mt.gov, 406-542-5500.
PREPARATIONS FOR SPRING BEAR ACTIVITY
Spring is here and the bears are out. Contain your garbage in a bear-resistant manner and take a look around your property – do you have other attractants out that could lure in a bear? You can do your part to minimize human-bear conflicts. It is time to turn on electric fences around small livestock and chickens, close garage doors, make sure no livestock or pet feed is out and bring in bird feeders. FWP recommends that bird feeders only be placed outdoors between December 1st and March 31st. However if bears are still active in your area in December and January inform FWP and wait until all activity has ceased before feeding birds.
WINTER BEAR ACTIVITY AND DEN EMERGENCE
Most black bears and grizzly bears were in the den by mid-November, but hunters, loggers and winter recreators encountered bear activity through most of this winter, perhaps due to the milder winter conditions and reduced snowpack. Several grizzly bears and black bears did not “den up” until mid-January. And starting in late February -March FWP began receiving reports of bears emerging from the den.
REGION-WIDE
Grizzly Bear: As mentioned above, most grizzly bears were in the den by mid-November, but this year there were a handful of grizzly bear reports in the Clearwater and Blackfoot drainages, including the Garrison Junction and Deer Lodge Valley areas, into the month of January. On December 31st FWP received a report of a grizzly bear still out near Noxon and on January 3rd FWP received a report of a grizzly investigating wolf traps in Flathead Valley. Starting in late February and through the month of March reports of a large male began to trickle in from the Clearwater and Blackfoot Drainages. Most bears should be out of the den by mid-April with females with newborn cubs coming out in late April and May.
Highlights:
- On January 29th, in the Lincoln area, an antler hunter observed grizzly tracks east of town. On March 6th antler hunters observed grizzly tracks in the river bottoms east of town. On March 21st a grizzly was observed from a helicopter south of Lincoln in the Canyon Creek Drainage
- In mid-January a grizzly was scavenging a dead cow carcass near Helmville. In early March FWP received several reports of grizzly tracks along the Blackfoot River east of Ovando. On March 13th a radio collared female emerged from her den in the Monture Creek area.
- A grizzly bear was observed near a homesite on February 25th near Angevine Park along Hwy 200 upstream from Bonner. The bear was just passing through and following the old railroad bed heading upstream. A grizzly was photographed on a game camera in Missoula’s North Hills on March 27th.
- Note, on the Rocky Mountain Front a female grizzly was struck and killed by a vehicle west of Augusta on March 25.
Black Bear: FWP received reports of black bear activity through January in the Missoula North Hills and Seeley Lake areas. The first report of black bear activity this spring was on March 24th in upper Grant Creek. A black bear was observed on a game camera northeast of Missoula on the Flathead Indian reservation on March 25th. And a black bear was photographed on a game camera near the Marshall Mountain Ski Area on March 31st.
Mountain Lion: In the winter months most of the mountain lions are in the lower elevations. From January to present FWP has received reports of mountain lion activity across the region. Remember, where deer or elk are present, lions are likely nearby. Feeding and salting wildlife is illegal in Montana and this activity encourages lions and other predators to visit your property. Mountain lions are also attracted to any area with a concentration of turkeys. Please do not feed turkeys. And be aware that lions are also attracted to homesites with house cat activity. Lions are territorial and can be lured into areas where housecats are marking their territory.
A mountain lion was found dead behind a residence in Lincoln Montana on February 23rd. A mountain lion killed two sheep in the Potomac area. The incident was referred to Wildlife Services and FWP suggested the use of electric fences. On March 23rd Wildlife Services investigated a report of a lion killing two llamas and injuring a third in Missoula’s North Hills. It was determined that the llamas were killed by dogs and not a lion. On March 26th a lion killed and cached a deer near a residence in the Ninemile Valley. On March 30th a lion cached and killed a deer near a residence up Miller Creek.
MISSOULA BEAR BUFFER ZONE UPDATE
Phase 3 of the Missoula Valley’s garbage ordinance goes into effect on April 30, 2026. Starting April 1st, Grizzly Disposal and Republic Services will begin replacing garbage cans at homesites within the Missoula Bear Buffer Zone. Phase 1 and Phase 2 received bear resistant cans in 2024 and 2025 respectfully. Phase 3 takes on the rest of the Bear Buffer Zone areas such as Missoula South Hills, Miller Creek, Orchard Homes, Big Flat and portions of Grass Valley. Missoula’s garbage ordinance requires all garbage in the bear-buffer zone to be stored in a bear-resistant manner. If you notice any dumpsters or garbage cans in Phase 1 (Rattlesnake, Butler and Grant Creek Drainages in Missoula North Hills) or Phase 2 that are not bear-resistant, please call Republic services (406-532-7866), Grizzly Disposal (406-370-6660) or call FWP R2 (406-542-5500). Since Phase 1 and Phase 2 have gone into effect, bear conflicts have significantly declined. Learn more at the Missoula Bears Community Resources page. Please note that the Missoula Bears website is currently undergoing revisions. We anticipate this to be completed by the end of April if not earlier. The current website is still running but you may encounter issues.
In the Missoula and Potomac Bear Buffer Zones, most bear-resistant containers accessed by bears were the result of human error, such as improper latching. However, some were intentionally disabled—this is considered vandalism and may result in a ticket. Steel bear-resistant dumpsters need to be locked tightly with carabiners or locks at the three locations where it attaches to the main frame of the dumpster. Any dumpster that is not locked to the main frame of the dumpster is in violation. If you see misuse or suspect tampering, contact FWP Region 2 or Missoula Animal Control.
Potomac Bear Buffer Zone: Since September 1, 2024, the Missoula County Potomac Valley Bear Mitigation Area ordinance requires all garbage to be stored in a bear-resistant manner. If you notice any dumpsters or garbage cans that are not bear-resistant please call Republic services (406-532-7866), Grizzly Disposal (406-370-6660) or call FWP R2 (406-542-5500). Since the ordinance took effect, bear conflicts have significantly decreased—helping to protect both wildlife and the community.