Big Sky Times

Montana Gov. Greg Gianforte has declared September "Bear Aware" Month, emphasizing education and community involvement in bear conflict avoidance, according to a press release.

Grizzly bears, the state mammal of Montana and an iconic American species, have successfully recovered in the Greater Yellowstone and Northern Continental Divide ecosystems. The bear population is both growing in number and expanding in distribution, according to the release.

The declaration comes after two separate grizzly encounters occurred recently. In one incident, a pair of men were forced to kill a grizzly bear in self-defense in the Whitefish Range north of Whitefish. While scouting for hunting season near Smokey Range Trailhead off Canyon Creek Road, they surprised a female grizzly bear and her cub. The adult bear charged, and both men shot and killed it. During the encounter, one of the men was accidentally shot in the shoulder and has since been treated at a local hospital. Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks (FWP) confirmed the killing as an act of self-defense.

In another tragic event, Amie Adamson, a 47-year-old woman from Derby, Kansas, was fatally attacked by a grizzly bear while hiking in Yellowstone. Adamson had been working in the park for the summer, according to ABC News.

Gianforte emphasized the importance of bear awareness and conflict avoidance in his declaration. He highlighted the efforts of Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks, federal agencies, tribal governments and partners in both the conservation and agriculture communities for their work in managing bear populations and educating the public.

FWP continues to investigate both incidents. The bear involved in the Whitefish Range attack was approximately 25 years old and had been previously tagged for population monitoring in 2009. The agency is also monitoring the site for the bear's cub.

As the bear population grows, so does the potential for human-bear interactions. With September now officially "Bear Aware" Month, the focus is on education and prevention to minimize conflicts.

"Montana is bear country. Avoiding conflicts with bears is easier than dealing with conflicts," the FWP said.