Connect with us

Uncategorized

Bear Basics with Bernadette: The conflicts have changed, but bears can coexist here

Avatar photo

Published

on

By Kris Inman Wildlife Conservation Society

Looking back at holiday seasons past, my Christmas list often included wool pants to keep me warm and dry as I ventured into the woods to fulfill my job as a wildlife biologist. Deerskin gloves rounded off my list and they would help me to hold onto the scruff of the neck of black bear cubs who were snug in their mother’s den; the quiet signal of the radio-telemetry collar fitted around her neck guided us to their winter home. By climbing into the dens, and fitting them with new radio collars, we were able to learn if the cubs of the previous year survived to be yearlings.

This information helped us to track the population health, understand threats, and guide decisions to safeguard bear populations. At that time, the most significant cause of mortality we were concerned about was sustainable hunting. Two decades later, at this past holiday season, I found myself looking at new water bottles, to keep me hydrated as I work at a desk to bring science to on-the-ground-action.

The water bottle will be sporting a Bernadette Bear sticker—the newest member of the Bear Smart Big Sky team is meant to raise the profile of one of the leading threats to bears today: conflicts with people. There is a relatively easy way to reduce these conflicts: using bear-resistant trash cans. As I think to Christmas of the future, I envision a Big Sky community that is engaged in bear smart actions, like using bear-resistant trashcans community wide, so that bears are living in harmony alongside us.

As a community that thrives in being outside, it’s not hard to believe we can be inspired to change our behaviors and protect our wild neighbors.

Don’t forget to post photos of bear sightings and check in with Bernadette Bear on Instagram @bearsmartbigsky and #bernadettebear. Help support Bernadette in her campaign to create a more bear-safe and bear-aware community in Big Sky.

Upcoming Events

march, 2024

Filter Events

26febAll Day21aprBig Sky School District Kindergarten Roundup and 4K Program Interest(All Day) Event Type :EducationEvent City:Big Sky

15mar(mar 15)7:00 pm30(mar 30)8:30 pmVerge Theater Presents My Barking Dog7:00 pm - 8:30 pm (30) Verge TheaterEvent Type :ArtsEvent City:Bozeman

23mar6:00 pm23apr8:00 pmThe Portal- Cacao Ceremony, Transcendental Breathwork & Sound Journey Meditation6:00 pm - (april 23) 8:00 pm Santosha Wellness CenterEvent Type :OtherEvent City:Big Sky

28mar5:00 pm6:00 pmHoly Thursday Mass: St. Joseph Catholic Mission5:00 pm - 6:00 pm Event Type :OtherEvent City:Big Sky

Advertisements

X
X