Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks officials remind the public that bears are emerging from their densand it’s time to put away any attractants that might be outside. 

After a bear emerges, it takes a few weeks for its digestive system to get back to normal. The bear has been in the den for 4-5 months without eating, defecating or urinating, so its stomach and digestive system are empty.

Bears start out eating dry grass or roughage to activate the digestive system. Once the bear’s system is up and running, the search for higher quality foods begins.

FWP bear and lion specialist Erik Wenum notes some bears are already out in the valley looking for easy food. Residents are asked to secure garbage, pet food and other attractants.

If a bear gets into trouble, the sooner it’s reported the better. If a problem goes unchecked, it only gets worse as the bear gets more persistent and goes to greater efforts to get at those foods. The more habituated and food conditioned a bear is, the shorter its future will be.

Here are some simple tips to avoid bear conflicts:

• Secure garbage inside a garage or shed.

• Roll garbage out the morning of pick, up not the night before.

• Those who haul their own trash should take it to the landfill more often — don’t stockpile.

• Feed pets inside or bring food in at night.

• Clean up livestock food or food put out for wildlife.

• Bring in bird feeders, clean up spilled seed.

• Haul any livestock carcasses to the landfill.

• Protect chickens or other fowl with electric fencing. Guidelines for electric fencing are available at FWP’s Web site or by contacting FWP’s bear management specialists.

• To report bear issues, contact FWP at 752-5501.