BEARS: Increased grizzly bear sightings near Missoula

Continued from page 1 in numbers like they do in some other parts of the state, grizzlies are dispersing into more places as they travel between areas with established populations. Grizzly bear activity in the greater Missoula area has steadily increased over the past 10 years. This area sits between established populations of grizzly bears in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem to the southeast and Northern Continental Divide to the northwest.

“We’ve had enough confrmed grizzly bears in the Missoula area to remind us to expect grizzlies in spots that we live and recreate not too far from town,” said Jamie Jonkel, FWP’s western Montana bear specialist. “This is a time of year where bears are out feeding on berries, and we are often recreating—biking, hiking and camping—in the same areas, so it is important to be extra cautious. Around home, it is important to keep bear attractants secured.”

As the grizzly bear population con- tinues to expand across Montana, residents can take the following steps to help protect their property and be safe while recreating.

How to avoid attracting bears to your property:

Store garbage in an IGBC-certifed bear resistant bin or other similarly resistant building or container at all times until the day of disposal.

Avoid leaving food or smell attractants next to windows, doors or outside walls.

Do not leave out pet food, bird feeders and bird seed or BBQ’s. Bears are attracted to fruit-bearing trees and bushes, gardens and compost piles. Electric fencing can be efective at deterring bears as well as routinely picking fallen and ripe fruit.

Secure vulnerable livestock (chickens, goats, sheep) with an electric fence whenever possible.

Tips for recreating in bear country: Carry bear spray close at hand and know how to use it.

Travel in groups whenever possible and plan to be back to your vehicle in the daylight hours. 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.

Make noise, especially near streams or in thick forest where hearing and visibility is limited. This can be the key to avoiding encounters. Most bears will avoid humans when they know humans are present.

Don’t approach a bear.

For more information being bear aware, visit fwp.mt.gov/bear-aware.

Annual Bitterroot River cleanup scheduled for 12th

The Bitterroot Water Partnership invites you to help clean up the Bitterroot River on Saturday, August 12 in their annual Bitterroot River CleanUp. Volunteers sign up online for a walking site or foating stretch along the Bitterroot from Sula and Painted Rocks to Missoula, and clean up on their own timeline. Visit bitterrootwater.org/get-involved to sign up for your section or learn more.

Volunteers will receive a voucher for one free pint of locally-brewed beer from Brigand Event Center, located at 125 Hannon Ln in Darby. Vouchers can be redeemed at the River Clean Up Celebration from 5 –8 pm on Saturday, August 12. There will be a live band, face painting, and other activities at the River Clean Up

Celebration. From Friday, August 11 to Sunday, August 13, 10% of sales at Brigand Event Center will be donated back to the Water Partnership.

“The River Clean Up has really become a meaningful local tradition for our Bitterroot community,” says Alex Ocañas, Community Engagement Coordinator for the Water Partnership.

“We see that folks of all ages – families and friends – enjoy the opportunity to participate in this immense day of collective stewardship! In a community where so many of us love to spend time enjoying our Bitterroot River, it’s no surprise that we also like to spend time taking care of it and keeping it clean.”

Volunteers can clean up on their own schedule. Trash drop of locations will be available to volunteers all day on Saturday, the 12th. Large trash (i.e. fridges, recliners, bathtubs, etc., or full truck loads) must be dropped of at River Park in Hamilton, where a large dumpster will be available and volunteers present to help unload. Small trash can be dumped at Brigand Event Center, where a small designated dumpster will be available on Saturday the 12th. Dumpsters and collection service have been donated by Bitterroot Disposal.

Volunteers pull around 2,000 pounds of trash from the River each year during the Clean-Up. Each year, one volunteer will be recognized with a trophy and a prize for the “Best Trash” found during the Clean Up. Past winners found a bathtub, a recliner, a wagon wheel, and a car dashboard. You can sign up to volunteer by visiting the Water Partnership webpage at bitterrootwater. org/get-involved, calling the ofce at 406-375-2272, or stopping in at 162 S 2nd St in Hamilton. All participants are encouraged to visit the Clean Up webpage to read event guidelines.

The Bitterroot Water Partnership would like to thank the event sponsors: Bitterroot Conservation District, Fly Fishers of the Bitterroot, Bitterroot Disposal, Bitterroot Trout Unlimited, Ravalli County Fish and Wildlife Association, Brigand Event Center, Farmers State Bank, Triple Creek Ranch, Westslope Distillery, and Fly Fishing Always for sponsoring River Clean Up.