A petition filed with Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks seeks to require hunters and trappers operating in grizzly country to carry bear spray, citing rising defensive kills and documented grizzly mortalities across the state.
The petition, submitted in Helena, aims to enhance public safety and reduce grizzly deaths in areas where human encounters with the animals have grown more frequent. The Montana FWP communication bureau chief confirmed the agency received the petition and said it is currently under legal review, with the earliest possible presentation to the Fish and Wildlife Commission scheduled for October 15th.
Current Bear-Human Conflict Data
Montana FWP documented more than 20 grizzly bear mortalities this year, while reporting fewer than 50 human interactions with grizzlies across the state. More concerning to petition organizers is the sevenfold increase in defensive kills by hunters and trappers in recent years—a trend they argue a bear spray requirement could help reverse.
Bear ecologist Mike Bader noted that Montana law requires FWP to respond to petitions within 60 days. Failure to meet that deadline would violate the Montana Administrative Procedure Act, establishing a formal legal obligation for the agency to address the request.
Legal Process and Next Steps
The petition now enters FWP’s standard review process. Once the legal team completes its assessment, the petition is eligible for presentation to the Fish and Wildlife Commission at the October meeting, where commissioners will decide whether to hold a public hearing or take other action on the proposal.
Bear spray has long been recognized by wildlife management experts as an effective deterrent in grizzly encounters. The petition’s supporters argue that making it mandatory in active grizzly habitat could reduce both human injuries and the number of bears killed in self-defense situations, ultimately protecting the species while lowering risk to outdoor recreationists.
The outcome will likely inform broader grizzly management discussions in Montana as the state continues balancing wildlife conservation with hunting and trapping access in bear country.
