Montana has the biggest remaining grizzly bear inhabitants within the decrease 48 United States. It additionally has a strong moose inhabitants, with the animals occupying forested landscapes all through the western portion of the state. They’ll typically be present in regenerating areas inside dense mesic forest or areas with in depth willow fen habitat.
Grizzly bears are opportunists, altering their conduct to make the most of new meals sources. They’re labeled as carnivores, however they’ll eat bugs, a number of flowering vegetation, roots, tubers, grasses, berries, small rodents, fish, carrion, and extra. They’ll even try and take down younger or weakened bigger animals after they have the possibility.
Bear biologist Wes Larson captured this footage of a moose chasing a bear on the  Soda Butte Campground inside Montana’s Custer Gallatin Nationwide Forest whereas testing the location of a 2010 deadly bear assault again that he lined in his podcast Tooth and Claw. It’s not clear if this bear was chasing the moose for meals or in a defensive method, however it’s a wild clip both manner.
On Tuesday I went to an empty campground in Montana as a result of it was the placement of a deadly grizzly assault we lined on Tooth and Claw (my podcast). I noticed a moose within the campground and went to take a brief video of it…it ended up being a greater video than I anticipated pic.twitter.com/B0KFEpBvrd
— Wes Larson 🇵🇸 (@grizkidd) June 16, 2024
Being inside your automobile is a perfect spot to be in the event you spot a bear, however that doesn’t imply you shouldn’t be ready for an encounter when in bear nation. The state of Montana encourages carrying bear spray and understanding use it. Planning forward and being ready to take care of an encounter, whether or not it’s a grizzly bear or black bear, is critical to staying secure. Learn extra on bear security under.
Throughout an encounter with a bear
By no means run away. You can not outrun a bear. Working might set off a bear to chase.By no means strategy the bearDifferent conditions name for various responses.For those who see a bear at a distance, the bear seems unaware of you and you may transfer away undetected, achieve this quietly when the bear shouldn’t be trying towards you.For those who can not keep away from a bear that sees you, stand your floor and watch its conduct. Transfer away when it disengages.
Numerous encounter varieties and what to do
If a bear shouldn’t be actively engaged with you (trying away, ignoring you, working away or retreating)
Give the bear area by backing away slowly from the bear and getting into the other way of the bear.
If a bear reveals agitated/defensive conduct (huffing, jaws clacking, head swaying backwards and forwards, bellowing, swatting the bottom, and excessively salivating on the mouth)
Stand your floor, put together your bear spray, and converse in a relaxed method, till the bear retreats.
If a bear prices or seems able to cost:
Stand your floor.If it prices, use your bear spray, when the bear comes inside 30-60 toes.If the bear goes to the touch you, go face down on the bottom, cowl your neck and head as a lot as doable, and deploy your bear spray within the bear’s face. For those who wouldn’t have bear spray, play useless if it’s a grizzly bear, struggle again if it’s a black bear.
If a bear follows you, or slowly, purposefully or methodically approaches you:
Stand your floor.Get aggressive: wave your arms and shout vigorously.Get spray out and prepared.Combat again if it makes contact.
If a bear enters or reaches into your tent:
Use your bear spray.Combat again.
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