Residents can rest easy knowing that most bear activity in Lake County takes place in shaded or water-prone areas after dark and before sunrise, said CSKT Biologist Stacy Courville.

“They are basically looking for cover and food,” he said. “You will find them in just about any forested cover east of Highway 93, especially in riparian corridors and near rivers.”

Black bears, normally smaller than grizzlies, are spotted in a variety of different areas during bear season, Courville said. Grizzlies tend to stick to the water and places with cover.

Bears do not usually go after house pets, but instead tend to target small, unprotected livestock like goats, sheep, chickens and other foul, he said.

Mountain lions are more likely to prey on house pets, Courville said.

“There are new people moving in that are not as aware of activity. But we drill it into people that we live in Montana. It’s bear country,” he said.

CSKT biologists do go into the schools to educate children, he said.  His department does not have too much trouble with people interacting with bears.

“Both (kinds of bears) can kill a person but it’s pretty unlikely for bears to interact with people. We have very few incidents like that. Bears grow up learning how to live amongst us, and those who don’t, I end up dealing with,” he said.

Bear activity becomes more active after sunset, Courville said.

Authorities know where increased bear activity occurs but don’t publish that information, he said.