NORTHWEST MONTANA — A poor huckleberry crop is driving grizzly and black bears out of the high country and into neighborhoods across Northwest Montana earlier than usual this summer, according to Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks.
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FWP says conflict specialists have seen a spike in bear sighting calls in July and August, months when bears typically stay at higher elevations where huckleberries are plentiful.
"Huckleberries are one of the main natural food sources for both black bears and grizzly bears in this area, and so because we've experienced that below average crop this year that's kind of moved bears into the lower elevations," Malia Freeman, FWP Region 1 Communication and Education Manager, said.
Sightings have increased on hiking trails and in neighborhoods where bears rarely appear this time of year. Once a bear enters a neighborhood, it quickly finds food, and keeps coming back. Freeman says common attractants include garbage, pet food, bird feeders, fruit trees, and backyard livestock like chickens.
FWP is urging residents to take steps now to remove those attractants before a bear shows up.
"Putting your bird feeders away for the season, keeping your garbage indoors until the day of pickup or storing it in bear resistant containers, even doing things like using electric fencing to secure chicken coops or to put around fruit trees," Freeman said.
If a bear does appear in a yard or gets into trash, FWP says residents should call the agency immediately.
"If anyone's experiencing any sort of bear conflict, if a bear is getting into their trash or anything like that we really want folks to call us as soon as possible," Freeman said.
For information on how to report bear conflicts, click here.
