Living With Grizzlies

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December 3, 1998:  A draft report on Grizzly Bear Mortalities in the Lower 48 States was made available at the Interagency Grizzly Bear Committee (IGBC) meeting in Missoula, Montana.  The report lists 25 grizzly bear mortalities in the Northern Continental Divide Grizzly Bear Ecosystem (NCDE), the area in and around Glacier National Park so far in 1998.     Corrections could lower that number by a couple.  A December 2 article in the Missoulian reported the illegal shooting of a 3-year old male north of Polebridge, Montana brought the number of  known human-caused grizzly bear mortalities in the NCDE to 23.  The young grizzly was seen alive on the night of November 24 by bear management officials of the Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife, and Parks.  He was found dead the next morning.  A recent analysis of data from the South Fork Grizzly Study (south fork of the Flathead River) shows that the grizzly bear population in that area of the NCDE is probably declining and not increasing or even stable. 

As grizzlies search for food prior to denning for the winter, they are likely to continue to be attracted to human food, garbage, and other human attractants.  Although new "bear proof" dumpsters have recently been installed at the Essex disposal facility along U.S. Highway 2, just south of Glacier National Park, grizzly bears continued to be attracted to the site.   A visitor to this website who has a cabin in the area told me he saw a grizzly bear in a dumpster on October 2, 1998 and again on October 3.  The employees of the Izaak Walton Inn have told me they are cleaning the site on a daily basis and checking to make sure the doors on the dumpsters are closed and latched each evening.  There efforts are appreciated.   It is unfortunate that some users of these facility may intentionally leave the doors open or pile garbage on the ground to attract bears. 

Garbage disposal facilities like the one at Essex provide a convenient way for rural residents and businesses to dispose of their garbage.  Without such facilities, random and illegal dumping of garbage may occur.  However, these facilities need more control and security to prevent attracting grizzly bears and black bears and allowing them to obtain a food reward in the form of garbage.  Grizzly bears in Yellowstone and Glacier National Park were rewarded for years with garbage at open dumps.  Visitors and employees were rewarded each evening with a bear show as the grizzlies pawed through the garbage.  Those days are long gone in the national parks.  It is now time to stop allowing grizzly bears to obtain garbage from the roadside dumpsters. 

What else can be done?  A bear management specialist with the Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife, and Parks has told me that dumpsters with doors that open and close hydraulically have been installed in other areas and seem to help.  I suggested fencing, but was told by the chairman of the Flathead County Refuse District  that because grizzly bears and black bears can climb trees, that would do no good.  Well, something has to be done--if fencing won't work an enclosed building should be considered.  I would like to hear what can be done to solve the problem, not what can't be done.

Write a letter to the editor of your local paper and Montana papers to let them know that situations like this are unacceptable and must be corrected. 

Here some recommendations for people living in grizzly country from a brochure distributed by the Flathead National Forest:

1. Garbage should be stored where bears can neither smell or gain access to it, either in a bearproof container or inside a building that bears can't get into.  Haul garbage to an approved disposal site as often as possible to prevent build-up of odors.

2. Fruit trees attract bears, especially when wild foods are scarce.  Electric fencing is the most effective way to keep bears out of orchards.  Pick all ripe fruit from trees and from the ground as soon as possible.  Do not leave fruit on trees through the fall.

3. Vegetable gardens also attract bears.  Gardens should be located away from forests or shrubs, which bears use for security and travel; electric fencing is a good idea.  Composting odors also attract bears.  Electric fencing is, again, recommended.  Don't put meat, grease, or bones in a compost pile.  Consider an enclosed composter.

4. Livestock and pet food should be stored in bear proof containers, preferably inside a sturdy building that bears can't get inside.  Cut down on spillage by feeding from buckets or other containers, and don't leave leftover livestock food out overnight.  Don't leave uneaten pet food out at night.

5. Sheep are particularly easy prey for bears and should be closely herded.  Pigs, and foods normally fed to pigs, are very attractive to bears.  Consider electric fencing or not keeping pigs in bear country.  Do not bury livestock.  Bears will dig up carcasses.  Remember; when bears learn to kill livestock the bears usually have to be moved or destroyed.

6. Bear love honey and also seek bee larvae found in bee hives.  You can protect the hives with electric fencing or by elevating the hives, on platforms supported by metal poses that bears can't climb.

7. Bird feeders:   Hummingbird feeders and suet can also attract bears.  Feed suet only during the winter months, and suspend hummingbird feeders out of reach of bears.  (Note:   If you follow this advice from the brochure, keep in mind that the odors from the feeders will still be present and may attract bears--even odors from an empty feeder may attract bears.  It is probably a better idea to store them securely except when bears are in their dens.)

8. Closely supervise children when they are playing outdoors.  Make sure that children are home before dusk and are not outside before dawn.  Talk with children about bears and teach them what to do if they encounter one.

9. Remember: If you find that bears have gotten into your garbage or livestock feed, remove the attractant immediately.   Repeated use of a site by bears is much harder to stop than a single instance.   Bears will move on if no attractants are present.  Bears that associate food with humans and places humans live can become dangerous.  These bears usually have to be trapped and relocated, or killed.

This information can help prevent bears from being attracted to areas where people live.  Keep in mind that grizzlies and black bears are desperately seeking food at this time of year, and odors alone are enough to attract them--securely store all items that may contain food odors, including the barbecue grill.

Another issue is disposal of garbage at an approved disposal facility.  Many rural areas have garbage containers located in a central location, where residents and businesses can dispose of their garbage.     Many areas in grizzly country have "bear proof" dumpsters.    Odors from these facilities will attract bears.  If using this type of facility, properly dispose of garbage and close the lid or door when finished and report problems such as broken doors or garbage outside the dumpsters to those in charge of operating the site.   An individual who has a cabin in grizzly country reported seeing a grizzly bear jump out of a dumpster one evening and seeing a grizzly bear eating garbage inside a dumpster the next night. 

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