Officials Warn Of Grizzly Bear Presence Near Montana Ski Area
Fish, Wildlife, and Parks officials are currently warning of an ongoing grizzly bear presence near Snowbowl, a Montanan ski area.
To learn more, view this recent upload from NBC Montana.
Reports of confirmed and suspected grizzly bear sightings in areas near Snowbowl, like the Rattlesnake and Marshall Mountain, have trickled in this summer. And this past week, a grizzly was trapped southeast of Missoula as part of a black bear study.
As I'm a Missoula resident, here's the local scoop. Since I moved to the Zoo, griz haven't been a major concern, at least in or near town. Black bears occasionally descend on Missoula to rattle dumpsters and cause a nuisance, but I've never kept my eyes peeled for griz while recreating in the area -- which, admittedly, could be willful ignorance on my part.
Regardless, that status quo (or my idiocy corrected) appears to have changed.
NBC Montana reports, "Grizzly bear activity in the greater Missoula area has steadily increased over the past ten years." According to the North American Bear Center, grizzlies are 20 times more dangerous than black bears.
In a conversation with NBC Montana, Jamie Jonkel, the FWP's western Montana bear specialist, stated, "We've had enough confirmed grizzly bears in the Missoula area to remind us to expect grizzlies in spots that we live and recreate not too far from town."
The increasing breadth of grizzly bear ranges in western Montana is a double-edged sword. While FWP believes the development bodes well for long-term grizzly bear population stability, the proximity of these new habitation zones to urban areas like Missoula presents a distinct risk to property and people.
As for me? Good for the bears, I say. Living off the land isn't easy. But I'll be carrying bear spray next time I go for a hike in town.
Speaking of bear spray, now's a better time than ever to review the bear safety fundamentals. Plug in below.
Don't miss another headline from POWDER! Subscribe to our newsletter and stay connected with the latest happenings in the world of skiing.
We're always on the lookout for amusing, interesting and engaging ski-related videos to feature on our channels. Whether you're a professional or just an amateur, we want to see your best footage and help you share it with the world. Submit your video for a chance to be featured on POWDER and our social channels. Be sure to subscribe to our YouTube channel to watch high-quality ski videos.
