Bear Fair to educate public on coexisting with bears

The Polebridge Bear Fair is planned for Saturday, July 30 from noon until 4:30 p.m. at the Home Ranch Bottoms, 8950 North Fork Road in Polebridge. The family-friendly event is free and open to the public, providing educational opportunities and fun ways to learn about coexisting with bears in northwest Montana.

Hosted by the North Fork Preservation Association with partners Polebridge Bear Smart and Montana Fish Wildlife and Parks, the fair will feature exhibits, speakers, and kid’s activities to promote awareness and stewardship specific to grizzly bears, black bears, and people sharing the diverse landscape of Northwestern Montana.

Justine Vallieres, Montana Fish Wildlife and Parks Wildlife Conflict Management Specialist will explain the importance of education.

“Education is important for public safety and the conservation of bears,” Vallieres said. “I appreciate the efforts of the North Fork community to organize this Bear Fair and promote the simple steps everyone can take to keep bears wild and people safe.”

The North Fork of the Flathead Valley, along the western flank of Glacier National Park, is a jewel in the Crown of the Continent Ecosystem. The North Fork River defines the region as a federally-designated Wild and Scenic River, flowing 58 miles south from British Columbia, Canada to the confluence of the Middle Fork of the Flathead River at Blankenship Bridge.

This unique and pristine international watershed features glaciated mountain peaks, wildflowers, open grasslands, a wide river valley, diverse wetlands and clear, clean water. A rich complement of indigenous species still exists, including grizzly and black bear, moose, gray wolf, mountain lion, lynx, wolverine, and the endangered bull trout.

The increased presence of humans in this delicate ecosystem presents the need for sound stewardship, land planning and wildlife education. The local residents work closely with wildlife specialists and land managers to embrace sound conservation practices in order to preserve the natural resources and their way of life, off the grid.

North Fork Preservation Association Wildlife Coordinator Diane Boyd explains, “We are blessed to live and recreate in this wild landscape with its full complement of wildlife and wild rivers. However, our increasing human footprint has increasingly created human-wildlife conflicts that require thoughtful and active participation to keep the North Fork wild and problem-free. The Bear Fair is a great opportunity for people to learn how to do this.”

At the fair, exhibitors from the Montana Land Reliance, Be Bear Aware, Gallagher Electric (bear) Fencing, Glacier National Park, US Forest Service, Glacier Institute, and Bear Aware Bear Spray Rentals will provide educational resources. Presenters from the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes, Glacier National Park, Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks, and the North Fork Preservation Association will address the subjects of “Conservation and Native Traditions,” “Backpacking Safely in Bear Country,” “People and Bears, Vision for Coexistence,” as well as live music and a “Bear Dance,” at the outdoor event.

The mission of the North Fork Preservation Association is to “champion the exceptional biodiversity and wildness of the North Fork.”

For more information visit www.gravel.org. Note, participants do not need a Glacier National Park vehicle reservation to access the free event.