Prompted by the recent black bear sightings in Billings, Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks staff will host a bear awareness presentation at Bass Pro Shops, formerly Cabela’s, in Billings (4550 King Avenue East) on Tuesday, Aug. 19, from 6 to 8 p.m. The meeting is free to attend and no pre-registration is required.

FWP wildlife staff will give a presentation on bear safety, conflict prevention and management in the Billings area. Attendees will learn about possible bear attractants, how to store them properly to reduce the chances of negative bear encounters and how to keep themselves safe in bear country. Both wildlife and enforcement staff will be at the meeting to answer questions from the public. There will also be an opportunity for attendees to practice using inert bear spray.

Bears are active across the region. If you are experiencing conflicts with bears, please call your local FWP bear specialist. You can locate their contact information here.

Be?bear?aware

Montana is?bear?country. Black bears can be found across most of Montana, including near Billings. Grizzly?bear?populations continue to become denser and more widespread in Montana, increasing the likelihood that residents and recreationists could encounter them in more places each year.

Avoiding conflicts with?bears is easier than dealing with conflicts. Here are some precautions to help residents, recreationists and people who work outdoors avoid negative?bear?encounters:

• If you encounter a?bear, never approach it. Leave the area when it is safe to do so.
• Keep garbage, bird feeders, pet food and other attractants put away in a secure building. Keep garbage in a secure building until the day it is collected. Certified?bear-resistant garbage containers are available in many areas.
• Never feed wildlife.?Bears that become food conditioned lose their natural foraging behavior and pose threats to human safety. It is illegal to feed?bears in Montana.
• Carry?bear?spray and be prepared to use it immediately.
• Travel in groups whenever possible and make casual noise, which can help alert?bears to your presence.
• Stay away from animal carcasses, which often attract?bears.
• Follow food storage orders from the applicable land management agency.

For more information and resources on bear?safety, visit?fwp.mt.gov/conservation/wildlife-management/bear.