Grizzly bears are found in a growing part of western and central Montana, including the Northern Continental Divide and Greater Yellowstone ecosystems, and increasingly on the prairie east of the Rocky Mountain Front.
Who manages them
In the lower 48 states, grizzlies remain listed as threatened under the federal Endangered Species Act, managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service with state and tribal agencies, including Montana FWP. Whether to delist them has been debated and litigated for years.
Safety basics
- Carry bear spray, know how to use it, and keep it reachable instead of packed away.
- Make noise in thick cover and near streams. Hike in groups.
- Store food and attractants, including trash, pet food, livestock feed and bird feeders, in bear-resistant containers or buildings.
- Never approach a bear. Give it room to leave.
Report conflicts
Report bear conflicts or sightings near homes to your regional FWP office. Many communities and agencies help residents get bear-resistant containers and electric fencing.
For more background, see our explainers on Montana’s hunting season basics, Montana’s state trust lands, and what wildfire evacuation levels mean. Find more stories in our Energy & Environment section.
Sources
- Montana FWP, Living with Bears: https://fwp.mt.gov/ (search “Bear Aware”)
- U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Grizzly Bear: https://www.fws.gov/species/grizzly-bear-ursus-arctos-horribilis
- Interagency Grizzly Bear Committee: https://igbconline.org/