People and Carnivores

06/11/2026

This landowner knew from experience that bears and bees do not mix. Bears knocked over her hives in the past: once, when there weren’t any bees yet inside, and a second time when the bees were in a modified, insulated hive to overwinter. The hive was tough enough to keep the bees safe when they got knocked around by the bear.

This year, she’s not taking any chances and she called us to help build an electric fence around her hives. Now, the bees can stay safe in their hives and the bears can keep moving safely on!

We’ve checked in over the past month since we set up the fence, and things are going good!

06/09/2026

“In the Company of Wolves: An American Journey” examines the relationships between people, wolves, and other animals and how those relationships reflect a deeper story of who we are as a nation.

The film premiered at the Cannes Film Festival last month, and is now making its way to Montana.

You can see it in Whitefish at the O’Shaughnessy Center as a part of the Westland Impact Festival this Saturday at 5:45pm. Find more information about the film and festival here: https://www.projectwinterland.org/films2026/v/in-the-company-of-wolves-an-american-journey

06/04/2026

Have you ever rented bear spray?

On a recent trip to Alaska, the first stop for one of People and Carnivores staff members was to a 24-hour coffee shack that doubled as a pick-up and drop-off location for rental bear spray.

She reserved and paid for the spray ahead of time online, and the group was able to get some breakfast treats before heading off on their adventures.

The 10-day rental cost less than $30. Plus, she didn’t have to figure out what to do with a can of bear spray at the end of the trip had she purchased one new.

Why rent bear spray?

If you’re recreating in bear country, it’s always a good idea to carry bear spray. If you’re traveling, you might not be able to bring your can from home—bear spray isn’t allowed on airplanes—or you might not own bear spray at all.

As a part of your travel research, check the area you’re staying for bear spray rentals. Some spots have vending machines that make picking it up even easier, like the growing number of Bear Spray Shacks, which you can learn more about here: https://flatheadbeacon.com/2026/05/22/bear-spray-shack-vending-machines-spread-from-glacier-to-grand-teton/

06/01/2026

We're so proud to be a part of this effort, along with some other amazing groups, to reduce human-bear conflicts in Bigfork!

Luke Lamar recalls an incident a few years ago when Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks trapped a grizzly bear, not deep in the backcountry of the Bob Marshall Wilderness, but wandering around the gift shops of downtown Bigfork’s Electric Avenue.

05/27/2026

Did your electric fence survive the winter?

If you have an electric fence, it’s a good time to check that it’s in good working condition. Here are 5 quick reminders on what to check this spring.

Most fence damage from winter is hidden until it fails. Here's what to look for on your fence walk — and what you'll need to fix it.

05/22/2026

Recent mountain lion sightings in Bozeman are a good reminder to be aware of these big cats, even when you're on a familiar trail or in town.

Mountain lions may come into urban areas looking for deer or, if they're younger, establishing a home range.

Keep these simple safety tips in mind when you hit the trails: travel in groups, make noise, carry bear spray and keep it easily accessible.

At home, don't intentionally feed deer or other prey species. You can also remove dense, low-lying vegetation that can serve as hiding cover; install outdoor lighting and turn it on before going outside at night; and keep a close eye on pets when letting them outside, especially from dusk to dawn.

A Bozeman woman encountered a mountain lion near Morning Star Elementary. FWP is monitoring the area and urging safety precautions

05/15/2026

Most WMAs open today, so if you’re shed hunting this weekend, don’t forget to practice these bear safety basics:

🐻 Make noise. Luckily, this type of hunting doesn’t require you to stay quiet, so shout an occasional “Hey, bear!” especially if you can't see very far.
🐻 Be aware of your surroundings. Look up every now and again and scan the area for more than sheds.
🐻 Carry bear spray. Keep it in a quick-to-grab spot.

Good luck to all those searching!

(Please don’t mind the staged photo. Our shed season hasn’t been fruitful yet. 🤞)

05/14/2026

There’s still time to register for the Land Stewardship Field Retreat on May 23 in the Flathead!

We’re hosting a session about mitigating conflict with bears, mountain lions, and wolves.

Learn more and register at https://campusce.fvcc.edu/fvcc/course/course.aspx?C=217&pc=6&mc=10&sc=0

05/11/2026

After a couple of months of hanging around livestock pastures, fladry is taken down. While up, it keeps wolves out of pastures, as they’re nervous of the fluttering flags and won’t go past them.

So what happens once fladry is taken down? Do conflicts with wolves immediately start up?

Here’s what our field specialist Ryan had to say:

“Usually, we install fladry around calving or lambing time—when cows and sheep are most vulnerable. That’s why wolves may try to find that opportunity to get to livestock—especially the calves or lambs—because the livestock can’t defend themselves very well.

“The fladry is there to buy time for the calves and their mothers to grow and get more stable, and build up strength so they can better defend themselves.

“Fladry can also shift wolves’ movements. Once fladry comes down, wolves might not even be in the area anymore because they’ve moved on to look for food.”

05/01/2026

How far does your donation go?
✨ $50 puts bear spray in the hands of recreators
✨ $100 gets bear-resistant garbage cans on the ground
✨ $250 provides noise deterrents to keep carnivores moving
✨ $500 supports a livestock guardian dog that helps prevent conflicts

Give at givebiggv.org/organizations/people-and-carnivores before 6pm tonight!

However much you give, you’re getting tools on the ground that keep carnivores safe.