The University of Montana campus in 2021. The campus recently reported a bear on the premises. | Steven Pavlov, CC BY-SA 4.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0>, via Wikimedia Commons
The University of Montana campus in 2021. The campus recently reported a bear on the premises. | Steven Pavlov, CC BY-SA 4.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0>, via Wikimedia Commons
A large bear was reported on the University of Montana campus at 9 p.m. on Nov 11.
It was spotted near the Skaggs Building, heading in the direction of the Native American Center, according to UM Police. Responding officers asked people to steer clear and stay observant.
"UMPD encourages everyone to be to be 'Bear Aware,'" the university stated in a press release. "Please call UMPD at (406) 243-4000 or 911 in the event you encounter a bear. This information will be forwarded to FWP to assist their efforts in relocation. Below are some safety tips for bear encounters.
- Bears that are agitated may appear to be non-threatening or passive at first.
- Bears that are agitated may snap or pop their jaws and make a woofing sound.
- Do not run. This may incite a predatory chase response.
- Continue to face the bear and back away slowly, talking calmly to identify yourself as a human.
- If the bear continues to approach, try to scare it away by making yourself as large and imposing as possible by stretching your arms overhead and making loud noises."
Alerts Sign-up