Bear Encounters

I knew there were going to be a lot of new experiences and challenges when I moved my family to St. Ignatius, but I didn't count on having bears being a part of it. I was amused to say the least to see a Fish and Wildlife bear trap located behind the District Office here in Mission (see photo). It seems that there has been bear activity in and around neighborhood trash receptacles. Bear scat along school sidewalks as well as student encounters with a bears during the evening hours on the edge of campus.

The "Wildlife" here in Mission is definitely intriguing, amusing, as well as alarming. You don't have to drive to the National Bison Range, or Glacier National Park to encounter bears. Living in and around Mission, bears are some-what common. My family and I had such an encounter (see the bear photo above) last Friday evening not more than a couple miles from home. I was later told the bear was trapped and relocated. I can't say I didn't enjoy seeing the bear, but when I see a bear trap not more than a hundred yards from the front doors of our elementary school, I am a little alarmed and want to take precautions and share some information on bear awareness.

Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks has some very good information on living in bear country. According to the website:

Nine times out of ten, bears that repeatedly get into attractants around our homes are eventually euthanized. Please help save Montana bears from this needless outcome by learning some tips to help keep your residence bear-friendly.

• Do not put out salt licks, grain, or deer blocks to attract wild animals as these create areas of concentrated animal scent that will then draw in bears and mountain lions.
• Use native plant landscaping whenever possible. Be aware that a watered lawn with lush grass, clover, and dandelions is an attractive feeding site for bears.
• Close all windows when not at home or when cooking.
• Talk to your children about bears and how to avoid them.
• Have a plan in case a bear comes inside your home and keep bear pepper spray handy. Give a bear that is in your home an escape route by propping all doors open with something heavy that will act as a doorstop.
• Never approach a bear in your yard, always give bears an escape route and never crowd or harass a bear.

For more information you can go to the Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks website and learn about bear attractants, how to tell if your residence is bear-friendly, and some bear aware tools to help keep bears wild.

Maybe my alarmed reaction and this response is due to the fact that I am not use to this type of issue (bear activity around school and children). It is certainly possible that the St. Ignatius staff and students find bear encounters to be common, but non-the-less, its better to be safe...right?! Other than this "heads-up" blog post, the district will instruct staff on bear encounter response and an overview on the use of bear pepper spray that will be located in strategic locations on campus only accessible by staff and not students. We will also encourage bear awareness to be shared and discussed with students at the appropriate developmental levels.