Federation News -

Being “Bear Aware” Protects Both You and the Bear -

More than 80 People Attend Educational Event at MWF Headquarters on July 29, 2010

Bear conflicts with humans are in the news almost every day. Will you know how to react when you encounter a bear on the trail while hiking, hunting or fishing, or how to discourage a grizzly from invading your campsite, or worse, your home? How do you protect your pets? Montana hunters and anglers encourage safe, responsible behavior while recreating outdoors.

The state’s oldest and largest organization of hunters and anglers, Montana Wildlife Federation, along with Helena Hunters and Anglers, and Capital Sports and Western wants you to be “Bear Aware”. Join them at MWF’s facility at 5530 North Montana Avenue on Thursday July 29, 2010 6:30 to 8:30, for a presentation by Center for Wildlife Information’s Chuck Bartlebaugh, accomplished photographer and bear enthusiast traveling from Missoula, on how to safely, responsibly interact with our large, charismatic predators. Given the fact that conflicts with wildlife are primarily caused by inappropriate human behavior, you should become educated and prepared for potentially dangerous interactions with grizzly and black bears by learning basic defensive techniques. Capital Sports and Western will supply inert bear spray canisters for practice and have fully-charged pepper-spray on hand for sale at the event.

Bartlebaugh’s program covers preventative measures for your residence and while hiking and camping, as well as offer comprehensive youth bear-safety education. Additional highlights of the evening include a PowerPoint presentation, a full-mount grizzly bear, safety pamphlets on bear conflict prevention while camping, hiking, and enjoying nature, coloring books and other educational material for children of all ages.

Public interest in wildlife safety is growing as more and more people move into Montana and build homes in what was previously wildlife habitat. “Many new residents are from cities and don’t know how to coexist with large wildlife such as bears,” Bartlebaugh says. His quest for knowledge has led him to the Arctic for polar bears, the coast of Alaska and British Columbia for brown bears, and into the interior for grizzlies and black bears.

Montana Wildlife Federation, Helena Hunters and Anglers, and Capital Sports and Western want all Montanans to be Bear Aware.