BILLINGS — Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks (FWP) is urging residents to secure trash due to an increase in black bear sightings in Billings this year.
MTN reported on a black bear sighting in Lockwood in June. Other sightings have been common on the outskirts of Billings and near the Yellowstone River, according to FWP.
FWP communications manager Chrissy Webb said there have been more bear sightings in Billings this year due to a shortage of bear food sources, such as chokecherries.
“It's really just kind of an act of desperation for these bears, to try to make sure that they're still getting the food because they're not able to find it from those food sources that are more natural to them,” said Webb.
Webb urges Billings neighbors to lock their garbage in their garage and take down bird feeders to keep bears from returning.
“Your behavior should change a little bit, so we don't have a situation like Red Lodge, where there's bears getting into garbage nightly,” said Webb.
You can find more information on how to avoid attracting bears here.
