GREAT FALLS — The Montana Bear Education Working Group was at North 40 Outfitters in Great Falls on Saturday teaching people the fundamentals of bear safety.
“Being a Montanan or recreating in Montana, it’s really important to know that you could encounter a bear anywhere, and it’s very important to carry bear spray. Not to mention we’re seeing grizzly bears in new areas that we haven’t seen them in a very long time, so it’s just important to be prepared,” said Danielle Oyler, Montana Bear Education Working Group education coordinator.
To drive home the point, people got to practice their bear spray skills on a remote control charging bear. Many participants had to give it a few tries before they stopped the remote bear successfully.
“Some of these encounters happen very quickly, and it’s important to have your bear spray really accessible and know how to use it,” Oyler said. She recommended that people practice pulling the safety clip from their bear spray until they are comfortable enough to do it quickly.
When using the spray, she said to direct the spray low toward the bear’s front feet so the spray can rise up into the face. Most sprays will last for five to seven seconds if sprayed continuously, so you should try to start by using short bursts.
The Montana Bear Education Working Group is a collection of federal and state agencies and non-profit organizations that have common interests in reducing bear-human conflicts.
They are made up of the U.S. Forest Service; the Wildlife Management Institute; Montana Fish, Wildlife, and Parks; People and Carnivores; the Wildlife Conservation Society; and the US Fish and Wildlife Service.