Bear Smart Initiatives
Communities throughout the Northern Rockies are taking proactive measures to coexist with bears.
People and Carnivores is supporting these communities on their paths to become “Bear Smart” with various resources like educational materials, funding, and help with navigating the process.
Being a Bear Smart Community takes more than action on a single property. It requires people coming together to reduce human risks and help bears move safely within towns, developments, or other defined areas. While every initiative is different, the process typically involves gathering information about the community, assessing risks and needs surrounding conflicts, creating a plan to address those needs, implementing solutions, and setting up ongoing monitoring and sustainability. During the process, often near the beginning, a committee or working group is formed to ensure the involvement of diverse stakeholders.
Bear Smart Community initiatives not only reduce human-bear conflict risks, but they give residents and businesses a way to create community, hold engaging events, and welcome visitors and tourists with confidence.
The Bear Smart Community model is based on a successful program in British Columbia. While working with the town of Virginia City, MT, we found that applying the program’s main concepts—assess why conflicts are happening, create a plan to prevent conflicts, and strategically implement projects and share bear safety information—could help the town meaningfully prevent conflicts between residents and black bears. In 2024, Virginia City was recognized by Montana Fish, Wildlife, and Parks for their community-wide human-bear conflict prevention efforts, now led and sustained by a local Bear Smart committee. (Learn more about Virginia City in the video on this page.)
In 2020, we began working with the Interagency Grizzly Bear Committee (IGBC) to adapt the British Columbia program into a framework for communities in the U.S. The Bear Smart Community model continues to gain traction as a way for communities to strategically address human-bear conflicts.
We’re continuing to work with communities throughout the Northern Rockies to apply this model, helping people stay safe and protect their property, while keeping bears safe, too. Learn about our most recent work in our newsletters.
Interested in becoming a Bear Smart Community?
People and Carnivores can help. We’re here to talk through your questions, share ideas and resources, and more to help you reduce human-bear conflicts and foster a safer, more resilient community. Depending on your needs and location, we may be able to help with assessments and plans, educational materials, tools, and on-the-ground assistance.
Bear Smart Resources
-
Educational Materials
We offer bear safety kits and handouts for different audiences including homeowners, vacation rental owners, and restaurant workers.
-
Bear Smart FAQ and Information Sheet
What does it mean to be “Bear Smart?” How do you start an initiative? What resources are available? Our FAQ answers these questions and more, and our handout gives a short explanation of Bear Smart Community initiatives.
-
GetBearSmart.org
The Get Bear Smart website offers a slew of information and resources for community-wide bear conflict reduction efforts, including on how to build community interest, conduct an assessment, and manage bear attractants.
-
Bear Smart Community Network
If you’re working on a Bear Smart Community initiative, join this listserv to ask questions, share resources, and connect with others on community-driven human-bear conflict prevention work.