Annual management reports published for bears and lions in Northwest Montana

KALISPELL - Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks has published three new annual reports for grizzly bear, black bear and mountain lion management in Region 1 (northwest Montana).

The reports, prepared by FWP bear and lion specialists, provide an overview of management work, conflict response and prevention, monitoring, mortalities, public outreach and more in 2018. 

Tim Manley, a wildlife management specialist with FWP in Region 1, prepared the 2018 Grizzly Bear Management Progress Report for the Northern Continental Divide Ecosystem Portion of Region 1, with Justine Vallieres, an FWP seasonal technician. 

Last year, FWP received over 150 calls related to grizzly bears in and around the NCDE portion of Region 1. Of those, most were classified as bear conflicts. Most reported conflicts involved unsecured food attractants, such as garbage, chest freezers left outside, pet food left outside, bird feeders, chicken feed and fruit trees.

"The best way to minimize conflicts between people and grizzly bears is to prevent conflicts from occurring in the first place," Manley wrote in his report.

Prevention can include a wide range of options including installing and maintaining an effective electric fence, using approved bear-resistant garbage containers, educational events and increasing human tolerance.

 FWP personnel regularly work with landowners to address issues. A very successful effort has involved FWP working with residents to protect chickens, pigs and fruit trees with electric fencing. 

 In 2018, Manley and Vallieres helped install 18 temporary and permanent electric fences. An additional 13 electric fence energizers and net fences were loaned to landowners. Manley, as well as other FWP staff, also presented at several educational and outreach events throughout the year promoting bear awareness and safety.

 FWP prioritizes human safety and human-wildlife conflict prevention.

 Last year there were 23 captures of 20 individual grizzly bears in the NCDE portion of Region 1. All but one of the captures occurred on private land. Four of those bears were euthanized.

Bears that are moved are taken to an approved site with permission from the landowner or land management agency. The decision to capture or remove grizzly bears for management reasons is not made without careful consideration.

Erik Wenum, FWP bear and lion specialist based in the Flathead Valley, prepared the 2018 Northwest Montana Black Bear and Lion Conflict Management Report with Chad White, an FWP seasonal technician. 

Last year there were 975 calls related to black bears in the greater Flathead Valley, which is slightly above the 10-year average of 813. The number of on-site visits – 95 – was below the 10-year average of 172. The number of captures – 22 – was below the 10-year average of 35.

In northwest Montana, many areas with the highest densities of lions are also areas with expanding human population, Wenum notes. This is related to the concentration of deer and elk in their winter and summer ranges at the edges of the valley. Thanks to outreach and education programs, the number of lion conflicts has slightly decreased through time.

Northwest Montana is home to abundant populations of grizzly bears, black bears and mountain lions. Bears are active from springtime through fall before winter denning. FWP encourages the public to "Be Bear Aware" and take precautionary measures to work, recreate and live safely in bear country. This includes removing or securing food attractants and carrying bear spray. Safety and conflict prevention information is available on the Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks website, fwp.mt.gov. 

For a list of educational events in the region, visit the FWP Region 1 Facebook page. Residents can call FWP regional offices to learn more about wildlife or to report bear or lion activity. In northwest Montana, call (406) 752-5501. To read the full report visit http://fwp.mt.gov/regions/r1.