Montana Bear Season: How To Be Bear Aware

It's that time of year again, the bears of Montana are coming out of hibernation and will soon be doing "bear" things all across the state.

So, if you're reading this and are new to the state, or plan on spending some time here in the next few months, there are some things you need to know that will not only make your time in the outdoors more enjoyable but might save your life.

Every year, it seems that we have a story or two about folks not from Montana who have an account with some of our big four-legged friends, and while many of those instances are no fault of their own, there's always a few that could be avoided had the people taken the proper precautions.

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Our friends at Montana Fish, Wildlife, and Parks have a section on their website when dealing with bears in their natural habitat. Some of the highlights include:

• Be prepared to deal with bear encounters
• Carry bear spray and know how to use it
• In a bear encounter, it's not the type of bear, but the behavior that matters
• When encountering a bear, your behavior matters

It would help if you also remembered that running away is not the answer, bears can outrun you, and running from the bear may cause them to chase you. If a bear approaches you, stand your ground and have your bear spray ready, and be prepared to use the spray when a bear is coming towards you and is within 30 to 60 feet.

Education is key when entering Bear County, and you should always be prepared to defend yourself. If you would like more information on what to look for when encountering a bear in Montana, check out the Montana Fish, Wildlife, and Parks website.