Facing Bears in the wild wilds of Montana: A captivating adventure

Black and gray bears are found in the mountains of northwestern Montana, where black bears are most common. Although encountering gray bears is possible, especially in remote wild areas, it is unlikely.

Black Bears

Black bears are not as aggressive as gray bears and often tend to avoid humans. Its range is extensive including most of Canada and the states of the Rocky Mountains to Mexico, as well as other U.S. states. Black bears are rarely seen above 7,000 feet. You may encounter black bears in trees. Unlike gray bears, who only climb trees when you're young, the black bear is a very skilled climber. He often sleeps in the thigh of twigs. The black bear is a carnivore and plant, which means it eats plants, berries, insects, fish and meat of small and large animals. During the fall, they eat more than usual to gain body fat to continue with them during their winter "hibernation", which is not a real hibernation, but a deep sleep from which they can quickly wake up. When food is plentiful, they eat up to 45 pounds a day and increase 5 pounds a day in preparation for winter. During winter "hibernation", the bear may eat only once a week, or if it is too cold it will not eat for a month. During "hibernation," the black bear does not urinate or defecate. The name of the black bear is deceptive. It is the name of a species and does not refer to its color as it can range from pure black to cinnamon to blond. Black bears in the east are almost black, while those in the west are black to cinnamon with a white flame on their chest. Black bears in Alaska can have a blue or white color phase to merge with their snowy surroundings. Black bears reach maturity in about 3 years and can live up to 25 years in the wild.

Gray bears

Gray bears are found in Canada, Alaska, and nature reserves in Montana, Idaho, Wyoming, and Washington. The largest number of gray bears in the United States is found in Yellowstone National Park. And gray bears are the most aggressive of all bears. Gray bears have no enemies or predators. Gray bears rarely fight, and when they do, they are usually victorious. Gray bears are looking for food in spring and summer. They are omnivores and plants, meaning they eat both plant and animal matter. Its diet includes fruits, berries, nuts, roots, fish, rodents and sometimes other animals. She can detect food up to 18 miles away with her strong sense of smell. Gray bears hibernate in winter in the same way as other bears. During the summer and autumn, gray bears store body fat in preparation for a long winter sleep. Their dens are usually dug in the fall. And gray bears do not sleep "completely" during the winter. If it's nice and warm, they'll go down to the ground in search of food. Gray bears can grow up to 7 feet tall and weigh 325 to 850 pounds. They reach maturity in 3-4 years and live for 30 years or more in the wild. In captivity, gray bears live until about the age of 50. Gray bears are listed as "endangered" under the Endangered Species Act 1973 and are protected. Killing gray bears in the lower forty-eight states is a federal and state crime that can result in criminal and civil penalties of up to $50,000 and a year in prison. The Montana Forest Service and Fish and Wildlife Service has information describing the physical differences between gray bears and black bears that can help you figure out what kind of bear you might be dealing with. Before hiking or camping in remote areas, be sure to stop at your local forest service offices for current conditions and any tips or precautions regarding bear activity in the area you want to visit.

Tips to help prevent unpleasant bear encounters

• Learn how to distinguish between a black bear and a gray bear.

• Choose a campsite free of fresh bear tags.

• A bear's sense of smell is hundreds of times stronger than a human's. Keep the camp clean. When in camps, leave food locked in car trunks, hard-sided trailers, or bear-proof containers (coolers, backpacks, wooden boxes, and tents are not bear-proof!). When camping, hang food, rubbish and other bear attractions away from your sleeping area (100 yards)

• Keep food very high in a tree (at least 10-15 feet tall and 4 feet from the tree trunk). Choose a tree far from your camp. In no case should you store food in your tent or leave food in it.

• If you are above the tree line, store the attractants in double plastic bags, at high altitude and as far from your camp as possible. Remember that things like toothpaste, cosmetics, deodorant, canned food and drinks, pet food, horse granules, and animal carcasses (like fish scraps) can also attract bears.

• Cook meals away from your sleeping area. Do not sleep in or near clothes that you have handled with food. Always keep camp clean and wash all utensils after eating. Either burn the garbage or hang it with other bear attraction. Do not bury the garbage!

• While hiking in wooded areas, talk to your partner or partners or make some kind of noise. Bears don't like surprises!

• Never try to feed or approach bears! Avoid standing between mother bears and their cubs. Prevent pets from harassing bears. Do not mix dogs and bears!

Report any encounters with bears to the U.S. Hunting and Fishing Administration or the U.S. Forest Service, however insignificant.