bear & lion alerts - JUNe 2010

June 2011

Rattlesnake: Black Bear Snatches Backpack at Rattlesnake Trailhead
June 29, 2011
Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks received a report today of a sub-adult black bear that visited Missoula's main Rattlesnake trailhead and took a hiker's backpack that was lying on the ground near the trailhead sign. CLICK HERE for entire story from Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks.

MOUNTAIN LION UPDATES - June 29, 2011
Mountain lions are currently hunting fawns. Please do not feed deer and elk because it can draw predators close to your home!

Six Mile - A lion has been spotted close to homes.
Bitterroot - There has been some lion activity close to homes.
Miller Creek - A lion has been seen near homes.
Salmon Lake - A mountain lion has been seen around homes near Salmon Lake with a report of a lion attacking a dog in the area. People with house cats and small dogs should take precautions as these animals are vulnerable to mountain lions. FWP is addressing the situation.

BEAR UPDATES - June 29, 2011
FWP is predicting that berries such as serviceberry, chokecherry and hawthorn will be plentiful this year. Unfortunately, a couple of late frosts last week could have limited the huckleberry crop. Bears and other animals rely on berries as a major food resource and as berries ripen you may start to see bears concentrated in areas with lots of berries. If you are recreating in bear country always pay close attention to your surroundings, carry bear spray and know how to use it.

Sixmile to Evaro Hill - June 29, 2011
Bear activity is very heavy in this area. Unnatural food attractants such as birdseed, chickens and garbage have drawn in multiple black bears, including some family groups. Intentionally attracting wildlife such as bears and lions to your property is against the law and can create a dangerous situation for people and bears. If you have questions about how to secure your attractants please contact us. We can also give free Bear Aware educational presentations for you and your neighbors. We tailor these programs for each group. Contact us if you are interested.

St. Regis - June 29, 2011
Multiple black bears are working the neighborhoods in and around St. Regis. Please secure your attractants!

Rattlesnake - June 29, 2011
At least three bears have been seen in garbage cans in the Lower Rattlesnake over the last two days. Five bears have already been removed from the Rattlesnake this year! One of these bears was euthanized. Please contain your attractants!

Seeley Lake - June 29, 2011
A bear was trapped and relocated out of the Double Arrow. There have been reports of a grizzly hunting fawns in and around the Double Arrow. FWP is aware of these reports and is keeping an eye on the situation.

Upper Blackfoot - June 29, 2011
There is a lot of grizzly activity in the Upper Blackfoot including multiple family groups. They have been spotted eating alfalfa and may be waiting for the serviceberry crop to ripen.

Lincoln - June 29, 2011
One bear has been trapped and removed out of Lincoln.

Bitterroot - June 29, 2011
Bear activity is extremely high in the Bitterroot. Regrettably attractants such as garbage and birdseed are plentiful and uncontained. This can lead to dangerous situations for people and bears! If you have questions about how to secure your attractants please contact us. We can also give free Bear Aware educational presentations for you and your neighbors. We tailor these programs for each group. Contact us if you are interested.

All Locations - June 22, 2011
Fawns and elk calves are everywhere. Mountain lions and bears prey on elk calves and fawns. It is especially important not to feed deer during this time. Doing so could attract predators to your property. Also, if you see a baby animal do not pick it up! The mother is likely nearby and will return to get it.

Upper Sixmile Creek - June 22, 2011
Reports are coming into FWP of a bear in garbage and on a porch looking for bird feeders in upper Sixmile. Earlier in the month there was some lion activity in Sixmile Creek-----hunting deer close to houses.

Frenchtown (Roman and Mill Creek) - June 22, 2011
There are lots of reports coming in of bears tipping garbage cans, walking on porches and getting into chicken coops. There are ways to secure these attractants from wildlife. Please contact us if you have questions.

Grant Creek - June 22, 2011
A medium sized black bear has been working upper Grant Creek. He has been on a couple of porches looking for bird feeders and hit a compost pile.

Rattlesnake - June 22, 2011
There are a lot of bear conflicts occurring in the Rattlesnake. Most of these reports have involved sheds and chickens. Chickens are a major bear attractant! If you have chickens please enclose them in an electric fence. If you have questions contact us. FWP has already trapped and relocated five bears out of the Rattlesnake this spring and had to destroy one bear. This is avoidable! Please contact us if you have questions about securing your attractants. Costco is now selling BearSaver garbage cans for 259.99. These are bear-resistant 95-gallon rollouts (same as the big blue BFI containers).

All the following alerts are for June 13, 2011:

Evaro
A female black bear and two yearlings have been accessing garbage, birdseed and grain in the Evaro area. Please contain all attractants. Contact us if you have any questions.

Mill Creek
FWP has set a trap for a black bear who has damaged three cars.

Lower Petty Creek
A black bear is accessing birdfeeders and garbage. Bird houses and bird baths are great alternatives to birdfeeders!

Hamilton
A black bear has been visiting homes in the Hamilton area for birdfeeders and garbage. Please contain attractants!

Double Arrow
FWP has received multiple reports of a female black bear with a yearling approaching homes and climbing onto porches. Please pull in birdfeeders, even empty ones as they can be a sight attractant. FWP may trap and relocate this pair.

South Hills
Westview - a black bear has been seen accessing birdfeeders.

Helmville
A mountain lion has been close to homes hunting deer.

Anaconda
A mountain lion is hunting deer close to homes.

Six Mile
A mountain lion has been seen close to homes hunting deer. Please do not attract deer to your property! It is against the law and can draw predators close to your home.

Rattlesnake
A black bear was recaptured and relocated in the Rattlesnake last week. This bear had originally been captured in Florence.

Black bear picture on previous page: Courtesy of K. Quinn Ellis