Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks is unequivocal about wildlife in Big Sky Country, with “Montana Is Bear Country” as the headline on their webpage about bears in the state but you would mostly expect to see one in the backcountry, not in bustling downtown Bozeman.
While the urban areas of Montana aren’t normally hotbeds for bear encounters, they do sometimes make their way into city limits like this bear who breezed though the outdoor seating at Bozeman Spirits Distillery on West Main Street on Tuesday:
“Look who stopped by the distillery this morning to greet Tim. He was looking for some Huckleberry Vodka to take to his den for the winter! We’ve had our fair share of interesting things and happenings downtown, but this is one of the coolest!” -Bozeman Spirits Distillery
The bear didn’t stick around for any cocktails and bolted through traffic to a parking lot before disappearing off camera. Remember, bears can be anywhere in Montana from remote mountaintops to busy distilleries. Assume their presence and learn about what to do if encounter one below.
Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks Bear Safety Guidelines:
Plan Ahead
- Be prepared to deal with bear encounters.
- Carry bear spray in an accessible place and know how to use it.
- Both grizzly bears and black bears pose a threat. In an encounter, the bear’s behavior, rather than its species, should determine how you respond.
- In any bear encounter, your behavior matters. Bears respond to your actions.
During an encounter with a bear
- Never run away. You cannot outrun a bear. Running may trigger a bear to chase.
- Never approach the bear
- Different situations call for different responses.
- If you see a bear at a distance, the bear appears unaware of you and you can move away undetected, do so quietly when the bear is not looking toward you.
- If you cannot avoid a bear that sees you, stand your ground and watch its behavior. Move away when it disengages.
Various encounter types and what to do
If a bear is not actively engaged with you (looking away, ignoring you, running away or retreating)
- Give the bear space by backing away slowly from the bear and going in the opposite direction of the bear.
If a bear shows agitated/defensive behavior (huffing, jaws clacking, head swaying back and forth, bellowing, swatting the ground, and excessively salivating at the mouth)
- Stand your ground, prepare your bear spray, and speak in a calm manner, until the bear retreats.
If a bear charges or appears ready to charge:
- Stand your ground.
- If it charges, use your bear spray, when the bear comes within 30-60 feet.
- If the bear is going to touch you, go face down on the ground, cover your neck and head as much as possible, and deploy your bear spray in the bear’s face. If you do not have bear spray, play dead if it is a grizzly bear, fight back if it is a black bear.
If a bear follows you, or slowly, purposefully or methodically approaches you:
- Stand your ground.
- Get aggressive: wave your arms and shout vigorously.
- Get spray out and ready.
- Fight back if it makes contact.
If a bear enters or reaches into your tent:
- Use your bear spray.
- Fight back.
