Community-led bear conflict prevention funds available
The Montana Community-Bear Conflict Prevention Efforts Fund is providing up to $1 million to support community-led, non-lethal carnivore conflict prevention tools through the geographic range of grizzly bears in Montana.
Montanans living and working around grizzly bears are invited to apply for funding to help their communities adopt bear-resistant infrastructure and public education initiatives aimed at reducing human-wildlife conflicts.
“Investing in bear-resistant infrastructure and education is one of the smartest ways to prevent conflicts,” said Steve Primm, conflict reduction manager at Heart of the Rockies Initiative. “This program is intended to adopt the community-led tools that are most proactive and effective at increasing safety for bears and humans.”
The Montana Community-Bear Conflict Prevention Efforts Fund is part of a broader public-private partnership that is providing resources to ranchers, farmers and communities to expand the use of nonlethal wildlife conflict prevention tools.
Funding is provided through the America the Beautiful Challenge grant program administered by the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation and awarded to Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks.
The grant funding program is being administered by Heart of the Rockies Initiative, a Montana nonprofit organization focused on private land conservation in the Rocky Mountain region and supporting landowners in their efforts to sustain working lands and wildlife habitat.
Eligible applicants include Tribal, county and municipal governments, school districts and nonprofit organizations.
The application deadline for the first round of funding is March 24. For more information visit heart-of-rockies.org/ccr/grants/application-materials/.
These grants operate on a reimbursement basis, covering costs incurred by recipients for community investments such as bear-resistant waste solutions, outreach and education, infrastructure and program support.
In addition to supporting community projects, these resources can assist agricultural producers and landowner-led groups with conflict prevention strategies such as carcass removal programs, electric fencing and range rider initiatives.