Here is a handy checklist to ensure you are doing your part to coexist with bears. These are important steps for everyday life in bear country, whether you live here or are visiting.

Many people think the best way to identify bears is by their color and size, however, this can cause confusion at times because their colors and size can vary. Grizzly bears can have a dark brown, light blonde and even a brown coat. Black Bears can have a dark brown, white, red and black coats. To make certain you know what bear you are looking at, it is best to understand the list below of their different characteristics.

Stay bear aware whenever you are in bear country. To stay safe make sure you know the DOs and DON’Ts if you come across a bear on your trail. Remember to know their behavior and read all the trail signs updates before going out there. And always say “Hey Bear!” to alert them of our presence when recreating.

If you live in a bear country it is of the utmost importance to have a bear safe trash can. These cans will deter the bears from acquiring food from communities, habituating them to a food source and ultimately putting them in danger. Once the bear becomes habituated, they can become aggressive, confrontational and sometimes have to be relocated or euthanized, leading to the old adage, "a fed bear is a dead bear." Adverse bear-human encounters have been on the rise with the growing populations in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem. We can all do our part by using bear safe trash cans and securing food whenever possible.