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Attention Condon residents
Female black bear with two yearling cubs roaming the Swan Valley area. Recent
sightings have been between Falls Creek Road and Cooney Creek neighborhoods.

If you see these bears near a house, please try to frighten them away by yelling, throwing
rocks, making loud noises, banging pots and pans.  We don’t want these bears to get into
trouble. This is the time of year to secure all attractants!  See our Spring Bear Newsletter
to learn more about preventing bear problems.

Save the date! 2nd Annual Bear Fair on Saturday, August 1, 2009
Come learn about bears in the Swan. Fun for the entire family!
Backyard of the Hungry Bear Steakhouse in Condon. Bratwurst and beer.
Times to be announced.

New grizzly bear mount at SEC

Swan Ecosystem Center has a new grizzly bear mount on permanent display at the visitor center. This 450 lb. male was hit by a pickup truck in October 2007 on Highway 83 near Grace’s Greenhouse.

The bear was traveling the highway apparently seeking road-killed deer in the early hours of the morning. He had recently been fitted with a satellite collar that tracked his movements hourly.

Bears lead a risky life sharing the Swan Valley’s rich natural habitat with humans. Not only are they occasionally hit by vehicles, but we also lure them into our backyards by careless management of pet food, garbage and other attractants, forcing wildlife officials to kill the bears for our protection.

Swan Valley grizzly mounted by Mountain Creek Taxidermy and funded in part by Neil and Dixie Meyer and Rob Henrekin.

Grizzly Bears testing a bear resistant personal use container.  These containers are available on a lease-to-own or short term borrowing program. Photo by Patti Sowka.

Swan Ecosystem Center is working with partners to protect bears and humans and prevent property damage. The Bear Aware project helps people avoid conflicts with bears and other wildlife.

When bears find pet food, stock food, garbage, bird feed, fruit or compost in your yard, they quickly learn to return for more rewards. Bears that have become accustomed to humans usually are killed as a result of our carelessness.

Let’s do our part to protect bears and our families by following a few simple rules:

• Store pet food and garbage indoors.
• Feed pets indoors or bring uneaten food inside.
• Bring bird feeders, including humming bird feeders, inside at night.
• Pick fruit as it ripens.
• Keep coolers, refrigerators and freezers inside even if empty.
• Clean and securely store barbeque grills inside.
• Avoid planting clover; it is not native and it is becoming a favorite of bears.
• Do not leave food or garbage in your vehicle.
• Secure all odorous products, including motor oil, paint and antifreeze.
• Close windows and doors before leaving home.

	Bear break-in while owners were away. Notice the open windows, the one on the left is where the bear broke in.  Notice an unsecured bbq grill.  Always secure grills in a locked shed.  Keep doors and windows closed when you are away from home, and instruct visitors to do the same! Photo by Patti Sowka.		A dumpster overturned by a bear.  This dumpster has been replaced w/a bear resistant container, and when used properly is grizzly bear proof….tested by grizzly bears at the Yellowstone Grizzly and Wolf Discovery Center. www.grizzlydiscoveryctr.com

Challenge for people concerned for our bears
We have received a $200 contribution to purchase a bear resistant container for our loaner program. The donor encourages others to match the contribution for this very important cause. Donate by sending a check, earmarked '"Bear Aware Loaner Program" to Swan Ecosystem Center, 6887 Highway 83, Condon, MT 59826. To make a credit card donation phone (406) 754-3137.

Our Swan Valley Bear Newsletter is published each spring and fall, offering tips for preventing human and bear conflicts and providing up to date information about bear research and local bears.

Thanks to several grants and donations, we have been able to supply all Swan Valley businesses with large bear resistant garbage containers. Funding partners: Defenders of Wildlife; Disney Wildlife Conservation Fund; Interagency Grizzly Bear Committee; Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks; Swan View Coalition; U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and generous private donors.

If you compost, protect with electric fencing we offer Living With Wildlife packets for new and longtime residents. Realtors are encouraged to provide these packets for their clients.

Stop in at our office to review videos and pick up literature that will help you coexist with wildlife.

Bear Aware Committee Partners: Flathead National Forest; Living With Wildlife Foundation; Lolo National Forest; Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks; Northwest Connections; Seeley Lake Bear Aware; U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service; volunteers.