How to Coexist With Bears Forum

It’s Springtime in the Northern Hemisphere and bears are coming out of hibernation in many places. Both grizzly bears and black bears prefer to stay away from people, but when it comes to looking for food sources, some people make it irresistible for bears to stay away. Whether it be feeding birds and pets in a backyard, open dumpsters and trash cans, fruit trees, beehives, unprotected farm animals, or campers with easily accessible food, bears can be tempted to enter communities. Conflicts with bears usually means dead bears. But there are plenty of ways to coexist with bears that make it safer for bears and people.
Join IWCN to learn about the successful nonlethal deterrents that work, from people who are on the ground working with grizzly bears and black bears. Whether you are a homeowner, farmer or rancher, you can take steps to prevent conflicts with bears and keep bears and people safe. And non-profits, along with federal and state wildlife agencies can provide education, training and resources to support sustainable solutions for both ranchers, farmers, communities, and bears.
We will hear from two experts on ways to minimize conflict between bears and people.
Guest Speakers:
Dr. Seth Wilson is the Executive Director of the Blackfoot Challenge, a leading collaborative conservation NGO based in Montana. Seth is also a long-time Northern Rockies Conservation Cooperative Research Associate. He is a current member of the IUCN-Human-Bear Conflict Expert Team and past Chair of Montana Livestock Loss Board.
Dr. Heather Johnson is a Research Wildlife Biologist at the USGS Alaska Science Center in Anchorage, Alaska. Heather has a PhD in Wildlife Biology from the University of Montana, a MS in Wildlife Science from the University of Arizona, and a BS in Ecology from the University of California, San Diego. Prior to working for the USGS, Heather conducted research for Colorado Parks and Wildlife and California Department of Fish and Wildlife. She spent six years investigating the factors driving increases in human-bear conflict and the effects of expanding human development on bear populations. Her research is featured in a film called “Bears of the Durango.”
Join us to learn more!
Special thanks to the Foundation for Sustainability and Innovation for their support of this forum and “How to Coexist with Wolves”

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Bears are so much more smarter than give them credit for. Their skull is bigger than ours so that must count for something I mean how big are their brains? With a skull that big I mean.