Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks is urging residents of Absarokee to secure food sources and take precautions after a rise in black bear sightings in and around the small Stillwater County community. Similar increases in bear activity have been reported this year in Red Lodge and Billings.

FWP wildlife biologist Chrissy Webb attributed the uptick to a shortage of natural calories in the mountains. A late frost this year damaged berry and apple crops across parts of Montana, leaving bears with fewer options as they enter the pre-hibernation feeding period. “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,” Webb said.

Samuel Siegfried, who has lived in Absarokee for more than 20 years, captured a small black bear on his security cameras last week as it crossed his driveway and sniffed his wife’s car. The bear did not reach any garbage. Siegfried said he secures his bins with lids and bungee cords, though bears sometimes persist. Social media posts show additional sightings in the area over the past month, including video of a bear in a resident’s driveway.

Lifelong Absarokee residents Karen and Jack Robbins said they had not personally seen a bear but were aware of the recent activity. Karen Robbins noted what neighbors have been saying: “There’s nothing in the mountains, it sounds like. No berries or anything.”

What FWP Recommends

FWP is asking residents to remove or secure anything that could attract bears. Garbage bins should be stored inside a secured structure. Outdoor grilling and eating areas should be cleaned after each use. The agency also advises against using bird feeders between March 1 and December 15 and against feeding wildlife in any form.

If a bear enters a property, residents are encouraged to haze it away using loud noises, paintball guns, or bear spray while keeping a safe distance. FWP asks that all sightings be reported to the agency.

Officials warn that bears finding food near homes may begin associating people with easy meals, increasing both the likelihood of return visits and the potential for aggressive behavior. Some Absarokee residents said they are not particularly alarmed by the presence of bears in the area.