bear & lion alerts - JUNe 2010
June 2010
West Riverside to Turah
June 25, 2010
Two black bears were captured and relocated within the last two weeks for getting into garbage and birdseed. The community is working with FWP to clean up attractants. Unfortunately, FWP is trapping for two to three additional black bears that have become quite bold around people.
If you live in this area it is extremely important that you secure all attractants on your property. If you have questions about securing attractants please contact us.
Petty Creek
June 25, 2010
A black bear was legally shot this week after it killed livestock. FWP is also currently trapping in the lower petty creek area for a bear that is getting into garbage.
Lower Ninemile
June 25, 2010
There are four to five black bears accessing garbage and birdseed in the Lower Ninemile. Please contain your attractants if you live in the Lower Ninemile. These bears could become bold around people if they continue to find "treats" close to homes. This is dangerous for both people and bears!
St. Regis
June 25, 2010
The female black bear and her cub that are believed to be responsible for biting a man in his tent in St. Regis were destroyed Thursday night.
Rattlesnake
June 25, 2010
There have been some traffic jams in the Rattlesnake this week due to a black bear in a tree. This bear was trying to cross the valley. Please do not approach bears in trees because doing so can cause undue stress to the bear and it is dangerous.
GRIZZLY UPDATE
June 25, 2010
There have been a lot of reports of southern grizzly movement. A grizzly was killed outside of Butte this month and there is confirmed grizzly activity in the Avon/Garrison Junction area. Please take bear spray and be aware of your surroundings when recreating in western Montana.
BEARS
Big Flat
June 8, 2010
Black bears are getting into dog food and garbage. Please secure these attractants.
Bonner / Turah - West Riverside
June 8, 2010
FWP is continually getting reports of a black bear getting into garbage and birdfeeders in the Riverside, Bonner and Turah area. Please take down your birdfeeders to avoid attracting this bear to your house! If you must hang them, make sure they are at least 10 feet off the ground and 4 feet from any post or climbable object.
Four bears recently started accessing garbage in trailer courts in these areas. This started with one large attractant source in the back of a truck. You can contact us or look on this website for more information about securing garbage and birdfeeders.
Clearwater Junction
June 8, 2010
A female black bear with cubs has been getting into birdfeeders near Clearwater Junction. This is dangerous for both people and wildlife since it "trains" bears to come closer to homes. She is also "training" her cubs. Please take down your birdfeeders or contact us about alternatives.
Drummond
June 8, 2010
Black bears have been accessing garbage and other uncontained attractants in Hoover and Chimney Creeks.
Haugan & St. Regis
June 8, 2010
Multiple black bears have been reported in restaurant garbage in the Haugan and St. Regis areas. We are currently working with local residents and the US Forest Service to reduce attractants in this wildlife corridor. Restaurants are an easy draw for bears and can serve as a "training" site for habituating bears to people. If you would like to know about alternative storage options for garbage at your restaurant or a restaurant near you please contact us.
Lincoln, MT
June 8, 2010
There has been a lot of bear activity in Lincoln related to garbage and birdfeeders. Both black and grizzly bears have been accessing chicken coops. This can be a death sentence for the offending bear, but there are options to avoid this type of conflict such as electric fencing.
If you are interested in learning how to secure attractants on your property please contact us.
Lolo Creek
June 8, 2010
Multiple bears have been accessing garbage in dumpsters up Lolo Creek. Please wait to take your garbage out until the morning of pick up if at all possible.
Petty Creek
June 8, 2010
Bears have been accessing garbage left out all night and a black bear was reported in a freezer and garbage. Freezers are not bear-resistant and can be a major attractant to bears. Contact us if you would like to discuss options about outside freezers. Electric fence works well with securing attractants from bears. Click here for more information.
Rattlesnake - Missoula
June 8, 2010
Bears are finding unsecured garbage in several apartment complexes in Rattlesnake Creek. If you are a landlord looking for options to secure attractants at your property please contact us. Bears in garbage in the Rattlesnake area is a safety concern for people and multiple bears have been removed and/or destroyed over the years due to this issue.
LIONS
June 8, 2010
There has also been an increase in the number of mountain lions attracted to homes because residents are providing salt for wildlife, feeding deer and/or turkeys. FWP Region 2 discourages salting and feeding wildlife and recommends that neighbors inform FWP if any adjacent residents are feeding or salting wildlife. Habituated lions are a safety concern. Numerous lions are destroyed each year for being lured into backyards by congregations of deer and turkeys. If you feed the prey species you are most likely feeding the predators as well.
Lion activity has been particularly busy in the Ninemile and Seeley Lake areas.
Special Note: CHICKENS
June 8, 2010
Chickens are quickly becoming the new backyard pet. We have seen a dramatic increase in the number of people acquiring chickens in predator country. Hence, chicken-related conflicts are on the increase. In the last month, FWP Region 2 has received multiple reports of black bears, and one grizzly in Lincoln, getting into uncontained chicken coops for chicken feed and chickens. There have also been chicken conflicts in Superior and on the Flathead Indian Reservation. Conflicts with chickens can occur within city limits, such as Missoula, or in more rural locations. If you do not know if you are in an area that might have bear and lion conflicts with chickens please contact us and we can let you know.
In the last few years FWP Region 2 and the Department of Agriculture's Wildlife Services have had to destroy multiple black bears and lions involved in chicken depredations. FWP Region 2 encourages all landowner with free-ranging chickens to adopt good stewardship practices, such as securing chickens at night in predator-resistant chicken coops and protecting free ranging chickens in areas surrounded by multi-ware, ground/hot electric fence. You can contact us for more information about electric fencing and chickens. Take a look at this manual provided by FWP here. There is also information available at www.lwwf.org in the electric fence resource guide.
Black bear picture on previous page: Courtesy of K. Quinn Ellis
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