Living among bears is one thing that never truly escapes my mind when outdoors in the Montana mountains.

Knowing that sharing the landscape with animals that were here long before the roads, fences, and houses creates a sense of nostalgia.

Black bears are one of those neighbors.

They aren’t seen every day, or even every year, but knowing they’re out there is part of what makes mountain living feel wild and keeps my senses heightened. I have seen bears that were far off and I’ve seen bears close up. Every encounter is branded in my memory and special.

A Wild Neighbor

Black bears are surprisingly adaptable animals. They move through forests, mountain drainages, meadows and areas where natural food is plentiful. Depending on the individual bear and the season, they may travel considerable distances looking for berries, roots, insects, and other sources of food.

Despite their name, a black bear isn’t necessarily black. Their coats can range from black to brown, cinnamon and even lighter shades that appear blonde.

That is one of the first lessons of living in bear country: don’t rely on color alone when trying to identify a bear.

Southwest Montana is also part of the Greater Yellowstone region, where grizzly bears roam. From a distance, determining whether you’ve encountered a black bear or a grizzly can be difficult, so giving any bear plenty of space is always the right approach.

When the Mountains Come Alive

Bear sighting seems cyclical to me. Regardless, I always carry bear spray when I’m in the mountains because an encounter can happen anytime, any season.

Spring brings new growth and the return of wildlife activity after winter. Summer fills the mountains with hikers, campers, wildlife and an abundance of food. Then autumn arrives, and everything seems to intensify.

For bears, fall is a particularly important time. They are focused on finding enough food to build energy reserves before winter.

That can sometimes bring them closer to homes.

Bozeman is having a fall with many bear sightings. A fruit tree, unsecured garbage can, bird feeder or bag of pet food may seem insignificant to us. To a hungry bear, it can be an easy meal and these bear begin to count on these easy meals.

Living in the mountains means accepting a little responsibility for the wildlife that surrounds us.

Making Home Less Interesting to Bears

Living in bear country is realizing that coexistence isn’t complicated, it just requires awareness. I usually keep an eye on the ground to spot any evidence that bears are around.

Garbage needs to be secured. Pet food shouldn’t be left outside. Compost piles shouldn’t have meat. Being mindful that bears are attracted to bird feeders, fallen fruit from trees and berry bushes.

The goal isn’t to make wildlife disappear.

It’s to avoid teaching wildlife that our homes are a convenient source of food.

That’s an important distinction. The privilege of living near wild country comes with the responsibility of keeping that wild country wild.

A fed bear is a dead bear. Boo! Living in the Greater Yellowstone region there is typically some news about a euthanized bear.

The Moment A Bear Is Sighted

There’s an exhilarating feeling that comes with spotting a bear from a safe distance.

My favorite bear sightings are seeing bears doing what bears do naturally. Running, foraging or meandering around. Sometimes they jet up trees.

Those moments are brief, and that’s part of their magic.

Give bears space. Keep pets under control. Don’t approach or follow it. And when you’re hiking or exploring, carrying bear spray and know how to use it.

Why It Matters

People move to southwest Montana for many reasons: the mountains, the open space, the trails, the rivers, the quiet.

But the wildness is part of the package.

A bear appearing near the edge of town or occasionally near a rural home is a reminder that we’re living in a landscape that still belongs to more than just us.

That’s something worth protecting.

Mountain living isn’t having wilderness as a backdrop, it’s knowing the wilderness is still alive around you.

Every once in a while, if you’re lucky, you get a glimpse of it.