camp, hiker or other backcounh^' recreationist), rural (farm/ranch, cabin, church camp, etc.) or urban 

 setting (subdivision, town); 2) surprise encounters -- bears surprised in close quarters and acting 

 defensively; 3) maternal defense -- females defending cubs; 4) food sources -- bears defending a 

 kill/carcass etc.; 5) human encroaching on a bear's space - photographer and/or tourist approaching a 

 bear close enough to elicit a defensive reaction; 6) bears responding to a noise attractant -- bears attracted 

 to a hunter attempting to bugle or cow-call an elk, bears associating gunshots with a food source (carcass 

 or gut pile), etc. 



In summary, we acknowledge that in some instances these guidelines are more constraining than current 

 guidelines; however this plan recommends that any bears that have killed a human be removed from the 

 population if they can be reasonably identified and captured. While there are times where it may not be 

 possible to determine this absolutely before management actions occur, FWP will use all available 

 evidence from the incident to identif}' the bear(s) involved before removal. 



Strategies to minimize or resolve human-grizzly conflict 



Successful conflict management requires a multifaceted approach aimed primarily at reducing or 

 eliminating human-bear conflict rather than simply responding to it. As such, strategies preferred to 

 minimize or resolve human-grizzly conflicts include: 



• Inform and educate the public 



• Develop and enforce practical and effective attractant storage rules/regulation 



• Use of deterrents and/or aversive conditioning methods 



• Short term, localized access management (if needed) 



• Management control 



Inform and Educate 



People living, working and recreating in portions of western Montana have been exposed to grizzly bears 

 for decades (mostly in and around the NCDE and portions of the CYE). However, in other parts of 

 western Montana, most individuals have less experience with grizzly bears. People in these peripheral 

 areas will inihally have a much lower comfort level relative to grizzly bears. In the past, bear safety 

 information has often been based on fear of the bear, and it is apparent that some people do fear the 

 grizzly bear. Other concerns are based on worries that the presence of bears in new areas would reduce 

 people's freedoms and safety while they are residing, recreating and conducting economic activities. 



Ideallv, fear of the bear should largely be replaced by awareness or informed respect. Respecting bears 

 and learning how to behave appropriately when around them will help maintain positive bear 

 encounters for both people and bears, and reduce the likelihood of negative encounters. Education is the 

 key. Bear safety information should be based on biology and behavior of the bear, how to interpret bear 

 behavior, and how to prevent encounters. Information should address situadons that cause the majority 

 of human-bear conflicts: bear habituation to humans, bear use of human food sources, and close 

 encounters. Bear safety information should be of a positive, non-alarmist nature and should target 

 specific audiences - hunters, hikers, recreadonists, rural homeowners, livestock operators, rural 

 communities, commercial interests (loggers, miners, resort operators), and others. Community 

 involvement is also important in developing bear safety programs. FWP, and other agencies, will work 

 in partnership with communities located in bear habitat to develop/promote programs that prevent 

 human-grizzly conflicts. An example of the type of informadon available can be found in Appendix B. 



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