Bears, attracted by garbage, roaming Whitefish

Sean Lohr was heading to town for a crepe Saturday when he came across the unexpected. On the corner of Central Avenue and Railway Street was a black bear casually strolling past the Great Northern Brewing Co. building, making its way toward the Oktoberfest tent in Depot Park.

Lohr quickly snapped a photo from the safety of his truck and posted it to Facebook.

“I think he was looking for a beer and a brat,” Lohr quipped in his photo caption.

The snapshot has since been shared online nearly 900 times. Yet, despite its social media stardom, the bear didn’t hang out in downtown for long.

“Highway Patrol turned their lights on and it ran toward the railroad tracks,” Lohr explained.

The urban bear encounter was one of many high-profile bear sightings reported in Whitefish last week.

Also on Saturday afternoon, a bear was spotted by Lohr’s friend, David Downing, near Mill Street.

Thursday, a bear was reported near Woodside Lane eating at a fruit tree.

Wednesday, a black bear was seen near the pond at Riverside Park. The bear crossed Central and Spokane avenues, went over a fence and through a yard on Somers Avenue, walked north on Columbia Avenue, then was chased down Second Street to Cow Creek.

Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks wildlife management specialist Erik Wenum says there are likely three or more bears hanging around town right now.

“At any one time, Whitefish always has at least one bear in city limits,” Wenum said. “Right now, there’s several. We know of at least three based on where they’re hitting.”

Montna Fish, Wildlife & Parks attempts to usher bears out of town when sightings are reported.

“The problem is we get a revolving door,” Wenum said. “We try to trap and relocate, but they’re hard to get in front of.”

Wenum says bears are making a final push to stock up on calories before winter sets in.

“They’re eating a massive amount of calories in preparation for denning,” Wenum said. “Some eat 20,000 to 30,000 calories a day.”

The bears have found easy food sources in town in the form of bird feeders, fruit trees and pet food. But it’s unsecured garbage that’s a big lure for bears in town.

“Bears have discovered the farther they go into town, they’re finding copious amounts of garbage,” Wenum said.

He called it an ongoing problem in Whitefish.

A city ordinance prohibits residents north of Denver Street and Bay Point Drive from putting their trash out before 4 a.m. on garbage pickup day. Still, Wenum says enforcing the ordinance isn’t a high priority in Whitefish.

“It’s up to individual homeowners in how they handle their trash,” he said.

“Whether you’re in the ordinance zone or not.”

Wenum advises resident to inventory their back yard.

“It’s time to bring in the bird feeder and pull the dog food bowl inside,” he said. “Pick up fallen fruit.”

Report urban bear sightings to Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks at 752-5501, or call police at 863-2420.