Seeley Lake needs to clean up attractants

SEELEY LAKE – "We are considered one of the worst bear problems in the region," said Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks Game Warden Bill Koppen. "There is just no reason for it."

After a black bear and a grizzly bear had to be euthanized in the Seeley Lake and Woodworth areas in the past two weeks, Koppen is asking the community to clean up, secure all attractants and help keep the bears out of trouble.

"When the bears are good, people love them," said Koppen. "When they get into trouble then they become [FWP's] problem."

Koppen has been the game warden for the area for 25 years. The bear activity in town continues to increase despite FWP and other groups' efforts to educate the community, especially in the spring when bears come out of hibernation, and in the fall when they are trying to fatten up.

While some people are quick to point to the Rice Ridge fire driving the bears into town or the poor huckleberry crop last fall, Koppen said the main problem is there are too many attractants in Seeley Lake because people are lazy.

Koppen has issued citations of more than $500 per offense with a mandatory court appearance.

"I can't say it has worked," said Koppen. "There is just too much of it."

Last year Koppen tagged eight bears. He relocated them up to 100 miles away but that is difficult because other communities are so close.

"We need to take care of our own problems," said Koppen. "I won't pass my problems onto the next community just because this community can't wake up."

Last week one of the black bears that was tagged and relocated last fall returned. It was shot in the face and blinded by birdshot. Once it wandered into Seeley Lake it started getting into garbage and had to be euthanized.

A couple weeks ago a young grizzly got into an open building in Woodworth area and had to be put down. Koppen said there is also collared grizzly named Stevi that is starting to get in trouble and will probably be the next one unless people get their act together.

Solutions offered by some residents locals is increased hunting for black bears and allowing grizzlies to be hunted. Currently state law allows someone to protect themselves and property from a black bear.

"You can't with a grizzly. It is only people, it is not property. You don't have the right to kill a grizzly because it is destroying a shed, your chicken or your dog or cat," said Koppen. "The more of these grizzlies that we keep putting down incidentally, the further that hunt is off. It is simple, let's clean up this problem."

Koppen said there are things that must be done now:

• Store all attractants (animal feed, garbage, beer and pop cans, diapers, food stuffs, bird seed, etc.) in a building, locked enclosure or approved bear proof can.

• While feeding birds is legal in Montana, Koppen asks residents take the feeders down and put them up in the winter while bears are hibernating. Bears love bird seed and will get into it if it is spilled on the ground or the feeder is hung too low.

• Secure refrigerators and freezers on the porch. This can ONLY be effective with a metal clasp and lock.

• Bear proof cans and dumpsters are only effective if they are latched. Overfilling and not latching properly allows full access to all contents.

• Don't put out trash the night before trash pick up.

• Shut all the door and windows on sheds and garages.

• Stop feeding wildlife – everything the deer eats a bear will eat.

• Secure chickens and other livestock with an electric fence.

If a neighbor is feeding or leaving trash unsecured, Koppen asks people to take some responsibility and talk to them.

"Don't call me on every neighbor problem, address it with them. Take a little pride – show a little integrity," said Koppen.

If a bear gets into a shed or garage, Koppen will address the situation. But he said if it is just garbage left out, people need to take responsibility and clean up.

"We haven't had anyone killed, we haven't had a child or an adult hurt but it could happen at anytime with a bear or a lion," said Koppen. "Use your heads."

To report a problem bear call Koppen 406-210-1299 or 1-800-TIP-MONT.