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Tips for Grizzly Encounters Not Being Heard

By KFBB News Team

Story Created: Dec 4, 2011 at 11:42 PM MDT

Story Updated: Dec 4, 2011 at 11:42 PM MDT

For a lot of us running into a grizzly bear in the wild is our worst nightmare.

What would you do if you were out of cell phone range or miles from help? Officials say the answer to that question isn't being shared with hikers or hunters visiting the backcountry.

A U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service official says the organization needs to do more to insure the tips it gives recreationists are being heard.

So far in 2011, records show 83 grizzly bear encounters in Montana resulting in two human deaths. Only 29% of people encountering the animals had bear spray.

Most of the incidents happened in northwestern Montana and in Yellowstone National Park. Wardens in Region 4, which includes Great Falls and the Rocky Mountain Front, say they saw more hunter and bear encounters this big game season than in years past.

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Grizzly Bear Spokesman said on Sunday, Dec 4 at 11:53 PM

...but why should people worry, since there are now fewer than 30 bears left in the wild, according to your report a few weeks ago?

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