Bring bear spray, and know how to use it.

That’s the take-home message from Tim Manley, a bear specialist with Fish, Wildlife and Parks, as warmer weather and longer days brings increased recreational opportunities along with hungry bears waking up from their winter hibernation.

“My recommendation in terms of bear spray is to pick up an inert canister. That way people can practice with it and see how far it goes, and try spraying in the wind without having to worry about it blowing back at you,” Manley said. “I tell people to practice with it, know how to take the safety off quickly, and have it accessible — not in your backpack, but on a hip or chest holster where you have quick access.”

April is the time of year when most bears begin wandering out of their dens, generally located at 6,000 feet or higher, and head to lower, snow-free elevations to forage for food. That includes pretty much all the populated areas in Northwest Montana, even the more densely developed towns in the valley. While more likely to avoid humans than black bears, grizzlies have been known to visit population centers such as Whitefish, Columbia Falls, Bigfork and even the periphery of Kalispell.

But while everyone has heard the horror stories, Manley noted that bear encounters are relatively common occurrences that should be handled as calmly as possible and usually end peacefully.

“I tell people to have respect for them, but bears aren’t looking to go and attack people. My experience is that given the chance, they will leave. They don’t want to have to deal with people,” he said.

Knowing the differences between bears can be handy when determining how to handle an encounter, although Manley said the proper response is highly dependent on the situation, and can be complicated. Carrying bear spray can minimize one’s chances of a bear attacking, but officials also generally recommend remaining calm, avoiding eye contact and backing away slowly. Bears can run faster than the fastest humans, so running away is discouraged as it may trigger a predator-prey response in the bear.

For a list of tips when encountering bears, visit fwp.org, click “Fish & Wildlife,” then click “Be Bear Aware.”

Campers should keep sleeping and cooking areas separate, and be sure to store food or other bear attractants where bears can’t get at them. Officials recommend against cooking smelly foods, like bacon or sausage, in the backcountry, as well as sleeping in clothes that were worn while cooking or eating. Bear bags, hung at least 10 feet from the ground and 4 feet from surrounding trees are a safe bet, but many companies also offer bear-proof storage containers. Manley recommended checking that such products have been tested by the Grizzly & Wolf Discovery Center in West Yellowstone before relying on them.

Anglers shouldn’t leave entrails on the side of the creek or lake, as this can habituate bears to patrol shorelines. Sink the remains, and puncture the swim bladder to make sure they don’t simply drift back to shore.

This is the time of year to bring the dog food inside, and take down bird feeders. Manley recommends replacing hummingbird feeders with natural alternatives like hanging fuchsias. Bears can be deterred from a residential area by banging pots and pans, yelling or setting off a car alarm. Manley added that those having issues with bears in their area can contact him at 250-1265, or call 911 or the sheriff’s office in case of an emergency.

However, one of the biggest bear lures is a bit more complicated to remove: chicken coops.

“It’s gotten really popular in the last 10 years, and now bears have figured out chicken feed and chickens,” Manley said. “Bears are good one-time learners, so once they learn something, they remember. Prevention is such a big part of it, so as long as the bears don’t start learning bad habits, we don’t have to remove them.”

The state fish and game agency provides information for setting up electric fences around your property lines or chicken coops, which is the main method for deterring bears. They will also assist with installation, although not the cost of materials. However, the national conservation organization, Defenders of Wildlife, offers a program that provides a 50 percent match for qualified landowners to install an electric fence.

“The funding is limited, so we ask that folks get ahold of us as soon as we know they’re interested,” said Erin Edge, the organization’s Rockies and Plains representative. “We can also help with materials lists and occasionally hands-on installation... We’ve also had people use the program for orchards, garden areas and bee yards.”

Those interested in learning more about the program can contact Russ Talmo at 728-8800 or by email at rtalmo@defenders.org.

Reporter Samuel Wilson can be reached at 758-4407 or by email at swilson@dailyinterlake.com