PABLO, Mont. – Grizzly bears are out of hibernation, and they are moving back into the Mission Valley for the approaching 2024 summer season. Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes (CSKT) Natural Resources Department (NRD) Fish, Wildlife, Recreation and Conservation took to Facebook Tuesday to educate people on the work biologists are doing to monitor the movements of this endangered species. “Any site a bear trap is set at is heavily marked with warning signs. Please heed the warnings and do not approach a site with a bear trap,” the Facebook post said. “It can be a dangerous situation, and there can always be multiple bears present, not all secured in a culvert trap.”Biologists use GPS location data to help understand bears’ habitat use, predict where conflicts between humans and wildlife might happen, and track important information on populations, such as like sow and Cub survival, according the post.
“There are grizzly bears that reside down in the Valley all summer long, so it is important for residents to keep their homes Bear-Smart to prevent any conflicts with carnivores,” the post said.
You can visit the CSKT NRD office in Polson at 406 6th Avenue East to learn more about the area’s Bear Spray Distribution and Bear-resistant Garbage Can Loaner Programs.
