“Its analogous to swimming in Hawaii. There’s sharks in the water but I’m not gonna not swim.”

With a recent uptick in bear sightings in Bozeman, it’s a great time to remind ourselves that the entire state of Montana is bear country and go over best practices when in the backcountry.  Listen up as a few local experts weigh in on how the the risk of encounters increases as bears prepare to hibernate and how to stay safe.

Francis Xavier is a seasoned writer for Unofficial Networks, bringing a lifetime of outdoor experience to his work. Having lived in a ski resort town for years he has a deep connection to mountain culture....