Farmers & Ranchers

Securing attractants on your farm and ranch reduces the chances of conflict with a bear and will help protect you and your property

FWP Research

• Research Paper Effectiveness of livestock guardian dogs
  • Discover the findings of the recently published study on the effectiveness of livestock guardian dogs (LGD) in safeguarding Montana prairie farmsteads. This multi-year case study, led by FWP's bear specialist Wesley Sarmento and Julie K. Young, associate professor at Utah State University, reveals the significant role LGDs can play in coexisting with recovering populations of apex predators.

Management of Grain, Feed and Other Attractants

• Storing and removing attractants, such as grain spills, food waste, and scented products, reduces the likelihood that bears will learn to associate buildings, silos and humans with food sources.

• Grain spills can be easily cleaned up if a tarp is placed under loaders when transferring grain between trucks and silos.

• Old grain should be disposed of through sanitation services, burning, or dumping away from people, buildings, and livestock.

• Do not leave out pet food or livestock feed, such as grain, sweet feed, or supplements.

• Secure chemicals such as pesticides, herbicides, biodiesel, and other products.

• Many attractants can be secured in a hard-sided building. Locks can easily be added to any door with a hasp, padlock or carabineer. Screws or nails protruding out from the door can deter a bear. An unwelcome mat (piece of wood with nails facing up) can also deter a bear.

Livestock Management

• Carcasses and afterbirth should be disposed of through sanitation services, in an electrified boneyard, or by distributing away from people, buildings, and livestock. Electric fence should be placed around carcass and bone piles until they can be removed.

• Install electric fence around vulnerable animals and non-removable attractants such as birthing grounds, sheep-bedding areas, bee aviaries, compost piles, gardens, fruit trees, berry bushes, and corn fields.

• Young, injured, sick, and/or weak animals should be kept away from areas with thick tree and shrub coverage, such as riparian areas (along streams, ponds, and drainages) from spring to fall, when grizzly bears are more active, and livestock are more vulnerable.

• Creep feeders, molasses, and mineral blocks should be placed in open areas where livestock can easily view the area before entering. Placement away from brush decreases the chance of livestock loss and reduces the chance of a bear using these products.

• Calving seasons can be shifted to earlier or later times of the year when bears are less active. Calving and lambing grounds should be in open areas with good visibility and away from bear travel corridors.

• Range-riders and livestock guard dogs/donkeys can greatly decrease the odds of livestock loss.

Carcass Management

• Carcasses and afterbirth should be disposed of through sanitation services, in an electrified boneyard, or by distributing away from people, buildings, and livestock. Electric fence should be placed around carcass and bone piles until they can be removed.

Avoid Negative Encounters with Grizzly Bears

• Shelterbelts/windrows should be maintained annually to prevent them from becoming overgrown as grizzly bears seek out thick patches of brush for bedding.

• Don’t let grizzly bears linger in your yard because this can lead to habituation.

• Notify your neighbors if you do observe a grizzly bear in the area to help make others aware.

Use Frightening and Scare Devices

• Download the latest US Fish and Wildlife Service hazing guidelines.

Report Conflicts

• Report conflicts to the nearest FWP bear management specialist.
• To report livestock conflicts, contact USDA Wildlife Services.