Montana Department of Fish and Game is advising hikers !!!!!

In light of the rising frequency of human/grizzly bear encounters, the
Montana Department of Fish and Game is advising hikers, backpackers,
hunters, and fishermen to take extra precautions and keep alert for bears.

We advise outdoorsmen to wear noisy little bells on their clothing so that
the bears are not startled unexpectedly by a human's presence. We also
advise outdoorsmen to carry pepper spray with them in case of an encounter
with a bear.

It is also a good idea to watch for fresh signs of bear activity.
Outdoorsmen should recognize the difference between black bear poop and
grizzly bear poop. Black bear poop is smaller and contains lots of berries
and squirrel fur. Grizzly bear poop smells like pepper and has little bells
in it.

Montana Grizzly Bear Notice

So that the Grizzlies have time to prepare a side dish and set the table when they hear you coming.....


YUM, HIKER!

many attacks are the result of a human surprising a bear

I'm from Big Sky country

I NEVER carried bear bells. I only saw a Grizzly once in Glacier, and it was thankfully on the other side of a huge ravine.

Black bears, I've seen a number of. You can usually scare them off with a lot of noise (such as 25 terrified Boy Scouts clanging together their mess kits...).

Both kinds of bears smell REALLY bad.

Men wearing noisy little bells when they go hunting. Yeah, right. :)

plus, those are the most beautiful parts of those states

Even the near-tame (by Grizzly standards) Black Bear doesn't like a surprise. Especially when cubs are around. The bells also help me keep up with Nick-Nick's wanderings in the woods and gorges around my place.

an oldie but goodie.

I had a bear encounter on a hike yesterday.

nt