09/05/2026
September is Bear Awareness Month in Montana!
While it is always important to be vigilant of wildlife, bears in the fall are more focused on their food and likely to be anxious about it, meaning they are distracted, make less effort to get out of our way, and their behavior is less predictable when they encounter us.
The best encounter with a bear is the one you avoid, so be alert to your surroundings. Expect the bear to be in that dense green brush. Make noise when possible and give the bear the chance to avoid you. If you see a bear, hear a bear, or just get that sense that there’s one nearby, do not approach it, back away slowly and give it space.
Carry bear spray. A good outdoorsman relies on many tools. For encounters with a bear, bear spray is quite simply the best tool for the job, because it is the one that is most likely to get you out of that encounter quickly and without injury. Keep it near to hand, and be familiar with how to use it.
If you’re visiting Yellowstone, be aware of bear attractants, which is anything with an odor. Be sure to pack away, securely store, and properly dispose of food and food packaging, but also things like toiletries and fuel canisters.
Stop by the Discovery Center today to learn about bears and safety in bear country, and meet our special guests from Custer Gallatin National Forest at their bear awareness tent at our entrance for a chance to practice with inert bear spray!
(Pictured: Nakina, 28 year old grizzly bear)
