Black bears are native omnivores that range across much of Montana. Many of the same characteristics and habits of grizzly bears listed above apply to black bears.
Where are black bears in Montana?
The greatest density of Montana black bears is found in the Seeley-Swan region as well as throughout the Kalispell region. I have hunted that area occasionally, but my favorite areas are the Madison Range, Big Snowy Mountains, Crazy Mountains and the Snowcrest and Gravelly Ranges.
Does Montana have black bears?
Discover Western Montana’s Black Bears
Black Bears aren’t always black. They can range from black to brown and blond to cinnamon. They have a straight snout, with their highest point being at the rump instead of the shoulders (like a grizzly).
What part of Montana has bears?
Montana is prime bear country. The area along the Continental Divide that includes Glacier National Park has seen 11 fatal bear attacks in the last 50 years.
How many black bears are in Montana?
Montana has around 15,000 black bears. However, state wildlife officials believe the population might be even larger than previously estimated. The state also has the largest grizzly population in the country after Alaska.
How many grizzly bears are in Montana?
Montana has an estimated 1,800 to 2,000 brown bears. Most bears in the state are part of the Northern Continental Divide Ecosystem. Montana’s Fish and Game Department says the state has been at the forefront of grizzly bear protection and recovery.
Can you shoot a black bear in Montana?
A resident hunter with a valid Black Bear License may lawfully chase black bears with hounds during the spring hound season in any valid hunting district or management unit during the period that unit is open to hound hunting or chasing.
Are there grizzly bears in Montana?
Northwest Montana has the largest concentration of grizzlies in the Lower 48 states, with more than 1,000 bears across Glacier National Park and nearby expanses of forested wilderness, an area known as the Northern Continental Divide Ecosystem.
How common are bear encounters in Montana?
Just to keep things in perspective, though, bear encounters are very rare. Consider that roughly two million people visit Glacier each year, and more than one million venture into the backcountry. On average, there are only one or two non-lethal bear “incidents” in a given year.
Are there polar bears in Montana?
[4] Luckily for us, polar bears are only found in the most northern areas of Alaska and Canada, and all of Greenland.
What city in Montana has the most bears?
MISSOULA — Montana is home to grizzly bears – reaching heights up to eight feet tall and weighing up to 800 pounds, among the largest omnivores in North America.
How many bear attacks are there in Montana per year?
There are an estimated 800 Grizzly bears in Montana. They can weigh up to 790 pounds and stand about 4 feet on all fours. Two million people visit Glacier National Park every year, and over one million are hikers. Annually, there are two non-fatal bear incidents on average.
Where are bear attacks most common?
The most updated bear attacks in Alaska statistics reveal that Alaska accounts for 29.6% of all fatal bear attacks in the US.
6. Alaska is the US state with the most bear attacks.
- Black Bears.
- Grizzly Bears.
- Polar Bears.
Are black bears aggressive?
In fact, they are often attracted to people’s food sources or get used to the presence of humans. However, black bears are typically not aggressive and fear the “repercussions of attacking someone,” Garshelis said. “They just don’t want to attack people,” Garsheilis said. “They’re kind of timid animals.”
Are there wolves in Montana?
The gray wolf is a native species that plays an important role in Montana’s wildlife heritage. Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks obtained full authority to manage wolves throughout the state upon the federal delisting of the Rocky Mountain gray wolf in May 2011.
Do grizzlies eat black bears?
Bears are cannibalistic and will eat other bears of their own species, as well as bears of other species, such as grizzly bears who will hunt down, kill and eat black bears. One of the reasons that bears kill other bears, including their cubs, is for food.
Are there moose in Montana?
Moose occupy forested landscapes throughout western Montana ranging from regenerating areas within dense mesic forest, such as the Cabinet Mountains in the northwest, to areas with extensive willow fen habitat, as found within the Centennial and Big Hole valleys in the southwest.
What states do not have black bears?
9 U.S. states that do not have Black Bear populations:
- Delaware – Extirpated.
- Hawaii – There are no bears in the state of Hawaii.
- Illinois – There is no known Black Bear population in the state of Illinois.
- Indiana – No breeding populations, some reports of sightings.
Do all bears hibernate in Montana?
In Montana, bears typically den for 5 to 6 months during wintertime (approximately November-March). Technically, grizzly bears in Montana do not hibernate. They enter into torpor, which is similar to hibernation, but is more like a deep sleep where the bears can still wake up easily in the den.
Can I shoot a bear on my property in Montana?
It’s already legal in Montana to kill a grizzly in self-defense or if the bear is “in the act” of killing livestock.
Where is the best black bear hunting in Montana?
MONTANA BLACK BEAR HUNTS
This Yaak Valley and northwest corner of Montana has one of the highest populations of black bears in the lower 48 states, and Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks describes our area as offering the best black bear hunting in the entire state.
