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Grizzly bears like this one in Yellowstone National Park have benefited from conservation efforts across the region. Current population estimates peg grizzly numbers in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem at more than 600. Photo by Sean Sperry.

Last week two hikers were injured by a sow grizzly bear in the Deer Creek area near Big Sky. The attack occurred quickly and without warning. One of the hikers was bit in the leg, the other in the arm. Neither of the hikers was carrying bear spray.

This week is National Bear Awareness Week, an initiative to educate the public about grizzly, black and polar bears. With estimates of the grizzly bear population in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem now exceeding 600, the importance of limiting bear-human encounters is more important than ever – for both species.

“The number one threat to grizzly bears is humans,” Jonathan Proctor of Defenders of Wildlife said on Monday. “Our actions will directly influence whether or not we can remove grizzlies from endangered species protections.

“Grizzly bears are expanding in their range and their numbers are increasing in large part due to the efforts of those that live within their range.”

Proctor said living in the heart of bear country comes with its own set of responsibilities. He said common sense measures like removing attractants on your property, keeping garbage indoors and erecting electric fencing around chicken coops and other livestock can help reduce bear encounters.

“Over the last several decades people in Montana have done a great job of removing attractants from the landscape,” Proctor said. “It is really helping grizzly bear populations survive along with us.”

But while grizzly numbers have increased across the Northern Rockies, so too have some of the challenges facing the species.

Tim Bennett, Northern Rockies Bear Program director for Keystone Conservation, said environmental factors and development in bear habitat are two of the challenges bears face.

Bennett said a decline in whitebark pine (of which the nuts are a major food source for grizzly bears) could contribute to increased bear-human conflicts as the predators seek alternative food sources. Earlier this month a grizzly bear was shot and killed near Fairfield after it and another bear killed seven ewes and a lamb on a ranch near the Sun River.

Bennett said reducing conflicts will take time and hard work. He said some of the challenges could be solve by technology, noting that many Montana communities do not have bear-proof garbage containers.

“When you look around, we are woefully unprepared in that area,” Bennett said. “Big Sky and Bozeman have unsecured garbage throughout their communities. That is primarily a problem with black bears, but could be increasingly problematic with grizzly bears.”

One Montana community that could serve as an example for others is West Yellowstone. On the border of Yellowstone National Park, West Yellowstone has a long history of bear activity.

Trent Redfield of the Grizzly & Wolf Discovery Center in West Yellowstone said community efforts have led to reduced bear-human conflict.

“There is an ordinance that makes it illegal to attract bears and requires the use of bear-resistant garbage containers in West Yellowstone,” Redfield said. “In addition, there are quite a few organizations involved in educating people about bear-human conflict including Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks, the West Yellowstone News and the town council.”

Redfield said that while many visitors come to Yellowstone National Park in hopes of seeing a bear, a healthy respect of the animals is critical.

“Bears certainly go out of their way to avoid people, but as we see in Yellowstone National Park they are fairly tolerant of people,” Redfield said. “Still, people need to be aware they are in bear country and be aware there is the potential for aggressive behavior that could end badly for them and badly for bears.”

Proctor said the recovery of grizzly bears in the Northern Rockies relies heavily on that awareness.

“Montanans have done a good job of cleaning up our act and learning to live with bears,” Proctor said. “And that is exciting.”

Five simple steps to limit bear encounters in the backcountry

1. Make noise while hiking to alert bears to your presence.

2. Keep a clean camp and hang food at least 10 feet above ground and four feet from any vertical support a good distance from your campsite.

3. Don’t sleep in the same clothes you wore while cooking or eating.

4. Always carry and know how to use bear spray.

5. Avoid trails or areas where signs of bears are evident.

Related posts:

1. Wildlife ambassadors: Grizzly & Wolf Discovery Center aims to educate, inspire
2. Entrance fees waived at Yellowstone National Park for National Park Week
3. What do you think … grizzly or black bear in Yellowstone National Park?
4. Bear tracks reported at Glacier National Park, visitors reminded to be cautious
5. Be bear aware: Play it safe this season while hunting in grizzly country

Tags: Grizzly & Wolf Discovery Center, grizzly bears, Keystone Conservation, Tim Bennett, West Yellowstone

This entry was posted by Ben Pierce on Thursday, May 19th, 2011 at 12:01 am and is filed under Bears, Bozeman, Hiking, Montana FWP, West Yellowstone, Yellowstone National Park. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.