Most grizzlies still in mountain dens; long-term, Front bears appear to be emerging sooner

Most grizzly bears along the Rocky Mountain Front remain in their dens, which is typical for late March, but over the long-term, grizzlies seem to be emerging sooner due to warmer and drier weather, according to a bear specialist with Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks. “I’ve been here long enough to be able to see it does appear to me bears in general are emerging earlier and earlier,” FWP’s Mike Madel said. Madel took a flight from the Sun River to Glacier National Park searching for signals from radio-collared bears Tuesday. During the flights, which are conducted every two weeks, bear researchers collect information on home ranges, habitat use patterns and survival and reproduction necessary to move the grizzly bear, currently designated as threatened, toward delisting. At this time of year, residents always are eager to know whether grizzlies are out of their dens, Madel said. “I would say the majority of the bears are still in their dens or still back in those mountainous environments,” Madel said. Madel picked up signals from six radio-collared females but no male grizzly bears. Of the six radio-collared females, four still were in the dens and signals from two were picked up very close to the dens. It’s typical for bears to spend five to 10 days near the dens when they first emerge lethargic, Madel said...more