Through the new Montana Black Bear Monitoring Program the Department of Fish, Wildlife & Parks is hoping to craft an updated and more detailed statewide population model of the species.
The Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife & Parks is undertaking a series of studies into bighorn sheep while cooperating with state universities, conservation and ag groups.
For proof, resident hunters have pointed to the statistic that between 2012 and 2022, nonresident hunter numbers increased by 80% as resident hunter numbers fell by 7%.
Bears may have noticed an emptier Gardiner last summer and fall and sensed an opportunity. Overall, there were 50 grizzly conflicts in the area reported to the state.