Officials Urge Increased Wildlife & Bear Awareness
Release Date: Jul 21, 2011
News Contact: Phil Sammon, Northern Region – 406-329-3472
MISSOULA, Mont. – US Forest Service wildlife officials are urging national forest visitors across Montana and Northern Idaho to exercise more caution as they explore national forest areas to reduce the potential for adverse wildlife encounters this summer.
Specialists report that the prolonged snowpack situation has caused a delayed ‘green-up’ of vegetation and habitat, particularly for grizzly bears. As a result, wildlife is moving farther down mountain ranges to find food, increasing the likelihood of unexpected encounters with Forest visitors and employees.
"People are urged to exercise heightened awareness this summer when they venture out into bear country," advises Scott Jackson, the National Carnivore Program Leader for the US Forest Service’s Northern Region office in Missoula, Mont. "The late melting of the snowpack is pushing bears and other wildlife to lower elevations in search of food, increasing the potential for confrontations."
Jackson reinforced the recommendations and actions listed on national forest and other websites that visitors need to follow for their own safety and the safety of wildlife.
"The biggest thing is for visitors to be more aware and vigilant of their surroundings when they are hiking the trails, picking berries, fishing or camping," Jackson stressed. "The most common tactics include actively looking for signs that grizzlies may be in the area, and making yourself obvious on the trail by traveling in groups of four or more and being noisy." He added that before you venture out on a trail, or to a campsite or recreation area, check with the local District Ranger or other local resource management office to find out about recent wildlife activity and if any areas are closed because of wildlife issues.
Wildlife are typically more active early or late in the day and often use the same trails as humans increasing the chances of an encounter. Most wildlife encounters, however, do not end in an attack. The most common causes for an attack are when bears and other wildlife are surprised by your presence, especially females with young, or when you come upon an animal near a food source. You never run from a bear or any wildlife, experts always advise. You should make loud noises as you slowly move backwards from the area without turning your back to the animal. You should also report any type of encounter with wildlife, as a means of both documenting the animals’ presence and as information and awareness for other visitors.
Several of the Forests in the Northern Region have issued Food Storage Orders in an increased effort to provide awareness, safety practices, and techniques that hikers, campers and hunters will need to employ this year.
While there are some localized differences among national forests or on other federal or state lands, there are several basic rules for food storage while camping. Primarily, all food, garbage or other items that would attract wildlife (including pet or livestock feed and items such as lotions and deodorant) must be made unavailable to bears by storing in an approved bear resistant container, a vehicle, or suspended high out of the reach of bears (generally at least 10 feet above the ground) and more than four feet from the support that it is suspended under. Be sure to check the individual national forest website or contact the local District Ranger’s office for Food Storage Order information.
The Forest Service is part of the Interagency Grizzly Bear Committee, whose website (www.igbconline.org) provides additional in-depth grizzly bear information for visitors to areas across the Rockies. Other federal and state agencies also provide representatives for the Committee, support the website with current information, and contribute to significant grizzly education and awareness activities across the region.
You can find the contact information for all of the Northern Region national forests at www.fs.usda.gov/r1, or from the national website at www.fs.fed.us .
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