Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks will host an event in Ulm to offer training and hands-on practice with inert bear spray and share tips for avoiding conflicts and being safe in bear country.
The free workshop will be held Thursday Sept. 3, beginning at 6 p.m.at the Ulm Fire Hall, at 29 Old US Hwy 91.
FWP bear management staff will discuss bear biology, safety practices for bear country, how farmers, ranchers and homeowners can prevent conflicts, and how to handle bear encounters. They will also provide training on how to carry and use bear spray. Participants will have the unique opportunity to practice using inert bear spray. Please leave any personal bear spray at home.
This free event is family friendly, and everyone is welcome.
Montana is bear country. Avoiding conflicts with bears is far better than dealing with conflicts. Here are some precautions recreationists can take to avoid bear encounters:
- Carry bear spray, know how to use it, and be prepared to use it immediately.
- Travel in groups whenever possible and plan to be out in the daylight hours.
- Make noise, especially near streams or in thick vegetation where hearing and visibility are impaired. This can be the key to avoiding encounters. Most bears will avoid humans when they know humans are present.
- Avoid carcass sites and concentrations of ravens and other scavengers.
- Watch for signs of bears such as bear scat, diggings, torn-up logs and turned over rocks, and partly consumed animal carcasses.
- Keep attractants secured and follow all food storage regulations.
- Don’t approach a bear.
For more information on bear safety, click here
