Uncategorized
Spike in Big Sky bear activity continues
![Avatar photo](https://www.explorebigsky.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/outlaw-partners-46x46.jpg)
![Avatar photo](https://www.explorebigsky.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/outlaw-partners-46x46.jpg)
Published
7 years agoon
Posted By
Outlaw Partners![](https://www.explorebigsky.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/bear_trap-e1503005947177.jpeg)
By Sarah Gianelli EBS Associate Editor
BIG SKY – With six incidents this season, bear conflicts requiring official intervention in Big Sky are up more than 50 percent from last year, but these numbers tend to be cyclical according to Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks Grizzly Bear Management Specialist Kevin Frey.
Of the five bears captured, three were relocated and released, and two were euthanized. The sixth bear on FWP’s radar for repeat food-related house break-ins was killed by a vehicle in the vicinity of Spanish Peaks Mountain Club. Most of the incidents have occurred in the Mountain Village area, although there has also been problematic bear activity in the Meadow.
On Aug. 2, a female black bear and two cubs entered a home near the entrance to Moonlight Basin and foraged for food in the residence’s kitchen. The bears gained access through the screens of open, low level windows. Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks also received a report of a black bear getting into garbage cans below Lake Levinsky at Big Sky Resort.
The homes tend to be occupied vacation rentals and Frey suggested the correlation could be that visitors are not as “bear aware” as residents. He relayed one anecdote of a couple waking up and finding bears inside the home, although he said generally bears exit the premises as soon as they are discovered.
Ennion Williams, general manager of Big Sky Vacation Rentals, said the company advises their guests to keep ground level doors and windows locked; and not to leave food in vehicles or coolers on porches—or anything, anywhere that might attract a bear.
“We try to instruct people to take preventative measures so bears don’t get into properties,” said Williams, who nonetheless has received bear-related reports from renters. “They are there,” he said. “But they’re usually not aggressive. Most of the time when you encounter these bears they run.”
Frey said the problem bears tend to be sub-adults, who at 2 to 3 years old have recently been rejected by their mother.
“It’s a stressful time in a bear’s life,” Frey said. “They’re learning to get along without their mother, and make it on their own, so to speak.”
He said that makes them susceptible to easily obtainable food rewards like bird seed, dog food and garbage.
The most recent capture occurred Aug. 6 in the Mountain Village, and this animal was put down. FWP makes the determination whether a bear should be relocated or eradicated on a case by case basis, taking into account the particulars of the break-in, including how easily accessible the food reward was, and the number of repeat offenses.
“We evaluate that and potentially give that bear another chance,” Frey said. “But it comes down to a public safety concern once they start repeatedly entering houses. So we hate to see bears get food rewards. … Every time you have to put a bear down it’s frustrating and sad and hard. … You know what needs to be done for bears overall and the public safety but it’s really sad when you’re there looking at a bear and trying to decide its fate.”
While Frey clearly prefers relocation to euthanization, he said the method presents its own challenges. Although FWP puts a distance of 40 to 50 miles between the capture area and release site, and in a habitat with adequate natural food resources, the bears often find their way back to civilization—either to Big Sky or elsewhere.
“Relocation is difficult because a problem that was created in Big Sky often becomes another community’s problem,” Frey said.
It’s common to see a spike in bear activity this time of year. As summer winds to a close, bears enter hyperphagia, a period of excessive eating and drinking in preparation for hibernation.
“From now through early October the bears are going to be on serious quest for high-calorie foods,” Frey said.
Again, he urged residents and visitors to minimize human-bear conflicts by not leaving attractants available or accessible for the animals.
“Any effort to not feed bears or leave food available for them will help everyone who lives here and it will help the bears out also,” Frey said.
For more information on bear safety visit bscomt.org/natural-resource-council/bear-smart/. If you have a bear-related incident that requires assistance call 911 or 800-tip-mont.
The Outlaw Partners is a creative marketing, media and events company based in Big Sky, Montana.
![](https://www.explorebigsky.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/ebs_logo_white_220px.png)
![](https://www.explorebigsky.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/ebs_logo_white_220px.png)
Upcoming Events
july, 2024
Event Type :
All
All
Arts
Education
Music
Other
Sports
Event Details
CALL FOR ARTISTS: Paint anytime from June 1-28EXHIBITION & SALE: June 29 - July 31Calling all artists and nature enthusiasts! Get
more
Event Details
CALL FOR ARTISTS: Paint anytime from June 1-28
EXHIBITION & SALE: June 29 – July 31
Calling all artists and nature
enthusiasts! Get your paintbrushes ready for an unforgettable experience at
Paint Under the Big Sky, a thrilling plein air event set against the stunning
backdrop of Big Sky, MT, Chet Huntley’s “The Last Best Place”. Don’t
miss this chance to unleash your creativity and be part of a vibrant artistic community.
What is Paint Under the Big Sky? PUBS is a plein air event for all painters of any ability (over the age of 16). Sponsored by the Big Sky Artist’s Studio & Gallery and the Big Sky Artists Collective, a non-profit organization whose mission is to foster a strong community of artists in the Big Sky area, the paint-out hopes to introduce painters to our extraordinary landscape for an opportunity to create, meet and have fun. Plein air painters record our landscape for generations to come.
Artists are invited to travel to Big
Sky, MT to paint anytime between Jun 1 – 28, and participate in the exhibition
and sale of paintings from June 29 – July 31.
Come join us! We have a great
place to paint and are welcoming and fun!
Don’t miss out!
Time
June 1 (Saturday) 1:00 am - July 31 (Wednesday) 11:55 pm
Event Details
Embrace the freedom and serenity of movement in nature with our rejuvenating morning yoga class on the Mountain Lawn. Allow the fresh mountain air and gentle guided yoga practice
Event Details
Embrace the freedom and
serenity of movement in nature with our rejuvenating morning yoga class on the
Mountain Lawn. Allow the fresh mountain air and gentle guided yoga practice to
invigorate your day of adventure ahead. Complimentary. Weather
permitting.
Time
June 1 (Saturday) 7:00 am - August 31 (Saturday) 7:00 am
Location
Montage Big Sky
995 Settlement Trail
Event Details
Bike Big Sky is a FREE community mountain biking group with BSCO and Gallatin Alpine Sports. Meet at posted locations at 6 p.m. Monday evenings. Visit BSCO.org or swing by
Event Details
Bike Big Sky is a FREE community mountain biking group with BSCO and Gallatin Alpine Sports. Meet at posted locations at 6 p.m. Monday evenings. Visit BSCO.org or swing by GAS for ride information.
Time
June 10 (Monday) 6:00 pm - August 19 (Monday) 6:00 pm
Event Details
Bike Big Sky is a FREE community mountain biking group with BSCO and Gallatin Alpine Sports. Meet at posted locations at 6 p.m. Monday evenings. Visit BSCO.org or swing by
Event Details
Bike Big Sky is a FREE community mountain biking group with BSCO and Gallatin Alpine Sports. Meet at posted locations at 6 p.m. Monday evenings. Visit BSCO.org or swing by GAS for ride information.
Time
June 17 (Monday) 6:00 pm - August 26 (Monday) 6:00 pm