Missoula Valley Fruit Exchange photo Fish, Wildlife and Parks Biologist and Bear Specialist Jamie Jonkel reports renewed bear activity in neighborhoods where there are abundant apples. This includes, particularly, West Riverside. Jamie asks for help in minimizing the potential for bear-human conflicts. Here are possible actions:

1.     Help a neighbor pick and dispose of excess apples.

2.     Contact a group you know about, a youth organization or others who might be interested in helping pick apples.

3.     Contact the Great Bear Foundation for help picking apples. Eliss Chott, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

4.     Take excess apples to the Peas farm, where they’re fed to livestock. Josh Slotnik, 239-6993

The problem of potential bear-human conflict is particularly bad this year because of a poor crop of the berries bears normally depend upon for adequate nutrition before entering hibernation. Any help you can give will be appreciated! Contact Jamie at 544-1447 to learn about folks in your neighborhood that need help picking their apples.

"SuzAnne Miller is the owner of Dunrovin Ranch. A fourth-generation Montanan, SuzAnne grew up roaming the mountains and fishing the streams of western Montana. Her love of nature, animals, science, and education prompted her to create the world’s first cyber ranch where live web cameras bring Dunrovin’s wildlife and ranch life to internet users across the globe." Distinctly Montana Magazine. Photo: Make It Missoula

SuzAnne Miller shares her connection to Montana in this short video created by Geoff Pepos as part of "The Roadcast" series. Watch "The Roadcast, Chapter One: From Missoula to Dunrovin with SuzAnne Miller."

Congratulations to Chuck and Mary Erickson awarded the 2015 Land Stewardship Award by the Missoula County commissioners, an honor that recognizes landowners and residents who take management of land and water seriously. (Missoulian photo)

Read more ...