Polebridge Bear Fair provides education on living with bears

The Polebridge Bear Fair, a family-friendly event designed to provide educational opportunities to learn about co-existing with bears, is set for Saturday, July 30.

The event runs from noon until 4:30 p.m. at the Home Ranch Bottoms, 8950 North Fork Road, in Polebridge. It is free and open to the public.

Hosted by the North Fork Preservation Association, with partners Polebridge Bear Smart and Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks, the fair will feature exhibits, speakers, and kid’s activities to promote awareness and stewardship specific to grizzly bears, black bears, and people sharing the diverse landscape of Northwestern Montana.

Exhibitors from the Montana Land Reliance, Be Bear Aware, Gallagher Electric (bear) Fencing, Glacier National Park, U.S. Forest Service, Glacier Institute, and Bear Aware Bear Spray Rentals will provide educational resources.

Presenters from the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes, Glacier National Park, Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks, and the North Fork Preservation Association will address the subjects of “Conservation and Native Traditions,” “Backpacking Safely in Bear Country,” “People and Bears, Vision for Coexistence,” as well as live music and a “Bear Dance,” at the outdoor event.

Justine Vallieres, Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks Wildlife Conflict Management Specialist, will explain the importance of education.

“Education is important for public safety and the conservation of bears,” she said. “I appreciate the efforts of the North Fork community to organize this Bear Fair and promote the simple steps everyone can take to keep bears wild and people safe.”

The North Fork area of the Flathead Valley, along with other areas of Northwest Montana, is home to many species of wildlife including grizzly and black bear, moose, gray wolf, mountain lion, lynx, wolverine, and the endangered bull trout.

The increased presence of humans on the delicate ecosystem presents the need for sound stewardship, land planning and wildlife education, the North Fork Preservation Association notes.

“We are blessed to live and recreate in this wild landscape with its full complement of wildlife and wild rivers,” said North Fork Preservation Association Wildlife Coordinator Diane Boyd. “However, our increasing human footprint has increasingly created human-wildlife conflicts that require thoughtful and active participation to keep the North Fork wild and problem-free. The Bear Fair is a great opportunity for people to learn how to do this.”

The mission of the North Fork Preservation Association is to champion the exceptional biodiversity and wildness of the North Fork.

For more information go to their website, www.gravel.org. Note, that participants do not need a Glacier National Park vehicle reservation to access the free event.