FWP Bear Specialist James Jonkel commenting on the story board presented by the seventh grade. It shows the story of a bear coming through Seeley Lake looking for goodies and when it doesn't find anything available, it moves on. "It has really good messaging," said Jonkel.
Blackfoot Challenge Wildlife Coordinator Eric Graham visiting with SLE Junior High Teacher Patti Bartlett about how impressed he was with the students' work and the messaging surrounding how to live with bears.
Jonkel chose Austin Gonzalez and Hattie Batchelder's 3-D model of a bear getting into trash to be displayed at the FWP office."I liked it because it was almost interactive. I could see it catching people's eye [in the lobby of Fish, Wildlife and Parks]. Then they would go over and read that nice message," said Jonkel.
Eric Graham chose Matiah Stidham and Novaleigh Wilkey's drawing to be displayed at Deer Country Quilts. He appreciated that it was the artists' own drawing and he really liked the messages. It highlighted people coming together to solve the bear/human conflict. He really liked that it gave Bear Specialist James Jonkel's phone number. "So many people don't call until it is too late," said Graham. "I'm all about as much prevention as possible to avoid having to deal with those hard-core conflicts."
Seeley-Swan High School Ecology class and junior Ted Aldeen, Graphic Design 2 student, created an interactive piece. SSHS teacher Michele Holmes came up with the idea for a photo mosaic of the bear because she wanted something collaborative for the high school students and something that added an activity for the grade school students. Aldeen worked with the ecology class, of which he is a part. He made sure they selected copyright free images and created the collage. FedEx Office Print and Ship Center in Missoula donated the printing and laminating of the poster. By using a magnifying glass, individual photos can be found within the collage. Those photos are associated with informational posters created by the ecology students.
SLE kindergartners created a mural with information about garbage and removing fruit from trees. FWP Bear Specialist James Jonkel loved the message at the top of the mural, "We share a habitat with bears."
SEELEY LAKE – The Seeley Lake Elementary Junior High Art Elective is hosting its first Bear Aware school-wide art show through November. The intent of the art show is to provide a prevention and safety lesson for the community and make everyone more aware of how to secure attractants from bears.
The public is invited to view the display in the breezeway by the junior high and in front of the kindergarten classroom. Several of the pieces were chosen for display at local businesses and area wildlife agencies.
In the fall, bears enter hyperphagia mode where they try to consume as many calories as possible in preparation for winter hibernation. As natural foods dry up, freeze and become less available, bears move through the Clearwater drainage and are constantly moving upstream and downstream. Every time they pass a residence, there is a learning curve.
"Every home site is like a behavioral trap," said Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks Bear Specialist James Jonkel. "As soon as they stumble onto one place that has a big heap of garbage, or a bird feeder, then it clicks. They are native bears that are taught to seek out human attractants. Every year we've got all of these animal trainers that don't realize they are so skilled. They are in essence training up four to five new bears every year."
The number of bear-human conflicts is on the rise. The handout given to the students said there are normally 15 grizzly/human incidents in the watershed. However last year there were 81 conflicts. Of these incidents, 65 were related to garbage, getting into livestock feed, chickens, birdfeeders and freezers on back porches.
Jonkel said they have been working in Seeley Lake to reduce human/bear conflicts for years but nothing seems to have a lasting impact.
"We remove the problem and get people to clean up," said Jonkel. "Then after things get better for a while, then the people get lax and the bears start up on attractants again. So far we have been putting some little band aids on a really big issue. We need the community to come together and decide collectively to solve this issue."
Jonkel and Blackfoot Challenge Wildlife Coordinator Eric Graham viewed the Art Show Friday, Nov. 8. They were both very impressed with the quality of the artwork and the messaging that the students came up with about properly dealing with attractants including garbage, food storage, fruit trees, bird feeders and livestock.
"This is instilling some good education and some good stewardship into the kids when they are young," said Jonkel who was thrilled with the art show. "The West here is so unique. A lot of folks that move here don't understand [how to live with bears]. Capturing it in art allows it to be used as a tool into the future. A good piece of artwork is worth 1,000 words."
Graham has given presentations in area schools about bear awareness. He shared a story about a rancher's son reminding him to grab the bear spray before they headed out for the day after attending Graham's presentation.
"Right there it told me it was worth the effort of educating the next generation," said Graham. "A lot of this is simple information but you just need to learn it. To teach it to the kids they are going to grow up knowing it – if I keep my attractants contained I'm going to avoid bear conflicts which is a win-win for the people and the bears."
SLE Junior High Science teacher Patti Bartlett worked with the Art Elective to frame the project. She felt the art show was a success and looks forward to expanding next year.
Bartlett said, "Ultimately my goal is to have an art show all throughout the watershed and make this a bigger deal."
The art show will be on display through November at SLE. Several pieces have been chosen and will be displayed at businesses and local organizations including: Clearwater Montana properties, Cory's Valley Market, Napa, Deer Country Quilts, the Seeley Lake Community Foundation, Glen's Automotive, Clearwater Towing, Grizzly Claw Trading Company, Rovero's, FWP regional office, US Fish and Wildlife Service office and the Blackfoot Challenge. The community is encouraged to check out the students' work.
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