Notes on grizzly sightings, or lack thereof

Fall foliage is approaching its peak. At my cabin only one larch has turned golden, but the low shrubs are a combination of colors ranging from yellow to pink to bright red and the quaking aspen are a bright yellow, which gives away the creeks on the mountains to the east. In the next couple of weeks, my golden meadow will return as the larch lose their chlorophyll and expose their carotin.

Pretty obviously, my predictions about grizzly bear activity for 2015 have fallen flat - so far. I saw only four grizzlies up to now and six black bears. Many Bears McDonough spotted 21 bears, but I don't know how many of them were grizzlies.

Last year I had over 20 bear sightings by the first of October, 18 of them grizzlies. We had identified three different females with twin cubs of the year. 2014 was a great year for huckleberries so we had very few (two) grizzly-human encounters although there were many sightings.

I predicted that 2015 would have fewer berries and with the six cubs being a year older we were at risk of more bear-human encounters. So far, that has not been the case.

Huckleberries were, in fact, much reduced in the lower elevations, but according to bear experts were plentiful at higher elevations. Until just lately the bears were up high and we have had fewer sightings. As they move to lower elevations I am still concerned that we could have problems with bears. Dry, hot, weather reduced low elevation berries, huckleberries as well as serviceberries, mountain ash and even Oregon grapes. Already, black bears have been encroaching on Columbia Falls, Whitefish and some rural areas. Does that mean increased bear-human encounters as bears prepare for their long nap? Only time will tell. I hope not.

One thing has not changed. I remain convinced that we have as many grizzly bears as the ecosystem can support. They have exceeded the proposed recovery goals and should now be managed by the State of Montana, not the federal government.

In my view, any other course threatens both bears and humans. What do you think?

Black bear season, archery season and moose hunting with a permit is open. As a result, North Fork landowners are putting up new No Hunting signs and refreshing the hunter orange No Trespassing notices. Hunters are reminded that it is their responsibility to avoid private property, even if it is not posted unless you have written permission. Shooting a game animal on private property without permission is a legal violation and may result in a fine, loss of the animal and loss of your hunting license. Above all, be safe out there. When you pull the trigger, you are responsible for whatever the bullet hits. Make sure it is not another person or domestic animal.