Information will be delivered at FWP regional headquarters and license agents in Regions 2, 3, 

 and 5 in a variety of ways including brochures, pamphlets, and guides made available to the 

 public via media presentations (newspaper articles, TV spots, "Montana Outdoors" magazine, 

 etc.)- Public displays and presentations (slide shows/talks presented to schools, communities, 

 sportsmen groups, sportsmen shows, etc.) will be presented by regional information officers, 

 grizzly bear management specialists, and other FWP staff as requested or needed to address 

 problems which may develop. Much of this information will also be made available through the 

 Internet via the FWP website (www.fwp.state.mt.us). The International Association for Bear 

 Research and Management (IBA) has produced a 50-minute bear safety video. This state-of-the- 

 art video {Staying Safe in Bear Country) was written by bear biologists and is available to the 

 public and for agency use from FWP. 



Enforcement of Food Storage Rules and Regulations 



Within the PCA the Forest Service has implemented food storage regulations designed to 

 minimize bear-human conflicts (Appendix C). These regulations should be applied to all public 

 lands statewide where bears may occur and should apply to anyone using these areas (loggers, 

 miners and livestock operators as well as recreationists). FWP will seek to establish an MOU, or 

 other appropriate agreement with the Forest Service and BLM, to expand the food storage order. 

 FWP will work with the appropriate federal processes (NEPA, forest plan revisions, etc.) to 

 accomplish this. It is also imperative that local interests are involved in expanding food storage 

 orders to build necessary support and incorporate local knowledge and concerns. 



On private land and in communities, church camps, resorts, and the like, people should be 

 encouraged to use only bear-proof garbage containers. In British Columbia, some communities 

 have revised waste laws making bear-proof garbage bins mandatory for residences and bear- 

 proof container enclosures mandatory for all businesses. As recommended in this plan, local 

 groups are the appropriate avenue for addressing these concerns and developing necessary 

 solutions. Communities will need to remain vigilant when dealing with food storage/waste 

 storage problems. In our experience, these efforts are very successful. However, as time passes 

 people can revert to behaviors that create problems. FWP will seek support from the Fish, 

 Wildlife & Parks Foundation, as well as other foundations, to assist with these long-term 

 programs. 



Bear Repellents and Deterrents 



Over the past decade considerable effort has been directed toward the development of non-lethal 

 techniques for dealing with problem bears. Two promising techniques are repellents and 

 deterrents. A repellent is activated by humans and should immediately turn a bear away during a 

 close approach or attack. The most promising repellent is a capsaicin spray ("pepper spray"). 

 Several brands have been developed which have been used successfully to repel attacking bears. 

 These products are for defensive purposes only, and, to be effective must be sprayed at the bear's 

 face (the eye area). People working and recreating in bear habitat should be encouraged to carry 

 pepper spray. Information will be available as to what repellent products are available and how 

 to use them properly. In addition, FWP will work with various private interests to make these 

 more readily available (i.e. cost share, etc.) and provide training on proper use. 



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