‘Quest for calories’: Bears venturing to town looking for food

Fall is in the air and bears are gearing up for hibernation. Black bear sightings have escalated here in southwest Montana, particularly at Georgetown Lake and in Anaconda.

Photographer Carly Moodry was able to snap this photo of a black bear recently in Anaconda’s Washoe Park. 

Photo by Carly Moodry

Brad Balis, a bear specialist with Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks, confirmed that four black bears were recently captured in Anaconda and relocated. It also appears that there has been elevated bear activity in Georgetown Lake and the entire Upper Clark Fork drainage.

Balis attributes the elevated number to a combination of a failure of natural foods and an abundance of unsecured attractants. 

“We’re seeing repeated bear conflicts in this area because some residents are failing to properly secure garbage, bird feeders, pet food, small livestock and livestock feed, fruit from fruiting trees, BBQ grills and outdoor freezers/refrigerators,” said Balis. 

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