Big berry year limits run-ins with bears

SANDERS COUNTY – Huckleberries and other species of wild berries experienced a bumper crop year throughout Sanders County this summer.

The success of these tasty treats was good news for residents and visitors to the county, who were able to enjoy the sweet treat over the past few months.

It wasn’t only people who enjoyed the summer produce as the large black bear and much smaller grizzly bear population of the county feasted on the fruits as they geared up for their winter hibernation.

According to Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks Wildlife Biologist Bruce Sterling, the large berry crop has helped keep bears up in the mountains and away from potentially dangers encounters with people.

“We really have not had very many problem situations with bears this summer,” Sterling said.

Sterling added that in good berry years, such as the ones Sanders has experienced over the past couple of summers it tends to bode well for both bears and humans.

When berries are plentiful the bears stick to their natural food sources throughout the summer and don’t come into contact and conflict with the human residents of the county.

“This year was a monstrously good year for huckleberries,” Sterling said.

Sterling does expect a little more bear activity outside of the higher elevations as bears move down in the valleys to search out other food sources such as apples.

The biologist said the end of the berry season prompts the bears to seek other options for sustenance.

“As those berries have a tendency to dry out in the fall, the bears start to focus on fruit trees,” Sterling said.

When fears come down into lower elevations as temperatures in the mountains drop late in the seasons, the large creatures often come in to contact with humans, usually when they are attracted to trash.

It is extremely important to secure waste and not leave food out in order to avoid potentially dangers situations with the wild animals.

County bears will continue to gear up for hibernation over the following weeks before going into hibernation.

According to Sterling, both species have no set time when they begin to hibernate and a lot depends on local weather conditions.

“A lot depends on what kind of weather we get. Bears will stay out until the weather forces them in,” Sterling said.

Sterling added grizzly bears usually hibernate at higher elevations than black bears and often on north facing slopes.

Alternatively black bears will hibernate pretty much wherever they find suitable and often enter hibernation earlier in the year than many grizzly bears.

Nonetheless, Sterling stressed that weather conditions and the availability of food were the most important factors when it comes to the bears and the start of heir hibernation season.

“Bears will stay out as long as they can find food,” Sterling said.

However, over the next few weeks bears will remain active and it is important to take appropriate safety precautions.

FWP Bear Management Specialist, Jaime Jonkel has a few safety precautions to follow when one is in bear country.

These precautions include carrying bear spray, notifying someone on your plans if you are hiking or hunting alone, and look for fresh bear signs.