Defenders of Wildlife Blog

Erin Edge, Rockies and Plains Associate

Grizzly family (Credit: Stephen Oachs)

Working on grizzly bear conflict issues for over 10 years has shown me a few things: First, grizzly bears are smart, and their sense of smell is phenomenal. If there is an available food resource around, they will find it.  Second, grizzly bears evoke emotion in humans. Almost everyone I talk to has some connection to just the idea of grizzly bears, and respecting all perspectives is part of finding real solutions to conflict. And finally, grizzly bears can recover, but only if we give them tolerance and safe access to wild, protected spaces. We must become responsible stewards of the lands we share. As Defenders’ Rockies and Plains Associate and point person on grizzly bear conservation, I draw on these three very simple ideas as I approach each day on the job, on the ground, working to keep the peace between humans and grizzlies.  One of the reasons I love my job is that I get to see real-world solutions stop grizzly bear mortalities from occurring.  This year was challenging, but rewarding.

An electric fence around a beehive can prevent a lot of trouble for grizzlies and humans alike.

The Northern Continental Divide grizzly bear population in Northwest Montana is on the road to recovery, and as the range expands, we face a rise in conflicts between people and grizzlies.  This is particularly true in areas where former bear habitat is now occupied by people and livestock. Chicken coops, fruit trees and garbage are powerful attractants for bears.  If a bear finds goodies at one location too often, they learn to expect food near human homes and property, often getting into trouble in the process, and potentially leading to the death of that bear.  The bear may also teach its young to access things like birdfeeders, garbage and chickens. Consequently, generations of bears could be at risk if attractants are left available.

Securing even one location can stop a grizzly bear from learning those behaviors and teaching other bears. To address this problem, we started an electric fence incentive program in 2010. Electric fencing is a highly effective tool for keeping bears out of trouble.  Our program reimburses people half of the cost (up to $500) of an electric fence installed around the trees, chicken coops, or other features on their property that might attract grizzly bears.  It’s been great to see the interest in this solution grow each year. In 2010 we completed six fences, then 12 fences in 2011, and then we completed a whopping 40 fences in 2012!  The people who participate in the program are also happy – they find a way to protect their homes, livestock or other property without threatening the bears:

Now I rest easy knowing that my trees and bears are safe. Thank you for your help. – Matt Dipaulo, 2012

We are a 4H family with pigs, goats, sheep, chickens, rabbits and horses, and young children. We had spoken often about an electric fence, however, couldn’t afford putting in a good solid one. I know Defenders of Wildlife sure helped us! – The Morris Family, 2012

Defenders also spearheads a variety of other coexistence projects to prevent conflicts between livestock and grizzlies. We assist ranchers with the costs of range riders, cost-share for livestock protection dogs and provide incentives to ranchers who voluntarily retire sheep grazing allotments that have a history of chronic livestock loss to grizzly bears. In fact, since we started this effort in 1997, Defenders has invested over $500,000 in more than 250 grizzly bear coexistence projects.

Additionally, Defenders’ Grizzly Bear Compensation Trust reimburses ranchers for the marketable cost of verified livestock losses to grizzly bears. In 2012 alone, Defenders of Wildlife paid over $89,000 to livestock producers through this program. Since 1997, Defenders has reimbursed ranchers over $370,000 for lost livestock. Working closely with ranchers minimizes grizzly bear deaths related to livestock depredations and improves tolerance. In a human dominated landscape, tolerance for grizzlies is critical to give them room to move, raise their cubs and reoccupy historic ranges. Grizzlies once roamed the Great Plains to the California coast, from Canada to Mexico. Today, populations still occupy less than 2% of their historic range.  The road to recovery is long and bumpy, but we are dedicated to working on the ground in order to ensure this iconic symbol of the American wilderness is recovered.

What do you see when you picture the lands where grizzlies live? Vast, remote mountain vistas, open prairies, lush green valleys and fish laden rivers? While ideal, habitats such as these are becoming few and far between.

This grizzly bear cub was captured and taken to a zoo as a result of conflicts with chickens and other bear attractants.

The reality is, the modern grizzly bear in Montana, Idaho and Wyoming must learn to navigate roads, neighborhoods, livestock, railways, and attractants such as fruit trees, chickens, birdseed and garbage scattered across the landscape. This maze of humanity leads to the deaths of many grizzly bears.  That is why Defenders is so committed to developing innovative ways to ensure that grizzlies and people can coexist.

Electric fencing is proving to be one of the most effective tools to deter grizzlies from getting into trouble with people.  It gives grizzles a strong shock which does not harm them but quickly teaches them to stay away from that attractant and move on in search of natural foods. Bottom line: it keeps grizzly bears alive.

Two years ago, Defenders created the electric fence incentive program to combat the onslaught of conflicts surrounding grizzly bears and chickens. The program reimbursed small livestock owners in northwest Montana and northern Idaho $100 towards the cost of an electric fence that would secure their livestock from grizzly bears. From 2010-2011, we helped 18 landowners install electric fences.  Due to increased interest and popularity of this program, we decided to expand the effort.  Beginning in 2012 the electric fence incentive reimburses 50% of the cost of an electric fence around any grizzly bear attractant–chicken coops, garbage, beehives, etc.–up to a maximum reimbursement of $500.00.

Russ Talmo explains how to use electric fences to protect beehives, chicken coops and other grizzly bear attractants.

Defenders has also hired a contractor to provide landowners with technical assistance regarding their electric fences. Russ Talmo formerly worked on Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks bear program, where he gained valuable experience advising landowners how to secure bear attractants using electric fences.

To date, the incentive will have assisted with the completion of 25 electric fences in 2012.  This program provides a solution to the growing issue of grizzly bear conflicts in the urban/wildland interface and is creating open dialogue and unique partnerships between feed stores, electric fencing supply companies, federal, state and tribal agencies, NGOs and landowners. Grizzly bears do not have to die for someone’s chicken.  Coexistence is attainable with tools such as electric fencing but it is our responsibility as stewards of these animals and their habitat to utilize these tools to ensure the survival of the wild grizzly.

Read this recent New York Times article about the growing conflict between grizzly bears and chickens. While it’s great to see so many people interested in raising chickens, it comes with a responsibility to protect our native wildlife as well.

“There are a lot of people, even environmentally sensitive people, who just don’t realize the problem they are causing,” said Jonathan Proctor, who heads the local office of the group. “But if they put up an electric fence, that allows the bears to teach themselves to do the right thing.”

How many bear biologists does it take to screw in a lightbulb? Probably just one. But it takes a whole lot more of them to keep bears out of trouble across the country and around the world.

Erin Edge stands guard at her grizzly bear display at a conference in Missoula.

That’s why 300 wildlife professionals descended on Missoula, Montana two weeks ago for a three-day workshop to learn how they can better protect both bears and people. Attendees of the 4^th International Human-Bear Conflicts Workshop included NGOs, international and national agencies, tribal members, corporations and other interested parties who are looking for ways to help bears and people coexist.

To coincide with the workshop, Defenders launched an expansion of our highly successful grizzly bear electric fence incentive program (see full press release). This year, landowners in eligible counties in Washington, Idaho, Montana and Wyoming will be reimbursed 50% of the cost of electric fencing (up to $500) to secure bear attractants, including chicken coops, beehives, compost piles and more.

Check out the nifty advertisement and poster we created to help promote the program, and click here to download the incentive form.

Bear Aware Coordinator Erin Edge represented Defenders very well during the workshop, providing important information about all our bear coexistence projects. On Wednesday, she was even given a round of applause for all Defenders work to protect grizzly bears and called on stage by Mike Madel, Montana Fish Wildlife and Park’s bear management specialist, to talk about the fencing incentive program.

The following day she was also quoted in the Missoulian:

Fencing systems cost around $300 and up, depending on the size and complexity. The nonprofit group Defenders of Wildlife has contributed more than $200,000 to subsidize private fencing projects, and currently offers grants paying 50 percent of the project cost up to $500.

Ranchers and sheep herders have been quick to adopt the fences, while smaller operations like the ones that raise chickens or goats have been slowly coming along, according to Erin Edge, the group’s Bear Aware coordinator. In addition to solar cells, some people have had success with wind turbines in places with less sunlight.

“Every single fence is a different situation,” Edge said. “It’s picking up each year since we started the program.”

Various agencies and NGOs from around the world inquired about the program and were excited about the potential results of such an incentive.  We plan to organize two electric fencing workshops this spring to help others learn how to reduce attractants on the landscape and minimize human-related grizzly mortality.

Great work, Erin and congratulations to our entire grizzly bear coexistence team!