Plans for 2013

In 2013 the RCWG plans to continue our efforts at understanding, managing and improving the relationship between the Rattlesnake Valley’s human residents and bears.  This will include coordinating management of apples and other fruit trees, along with other activities to reduce the incidence of unwanted human-bear interactions that put both people and bears at risk.

Our first activity of the year will be a community meeting on March 18th March 19th (updated).  Read more about the meeting and take our poll on bear attractants.

Update Sunday, October 28th, 2012: Bear Aware Apple Share Festival at Ten Spoon Winery!  Free and fun! Read more about it here.

Update Oct. 2012: Mark your calendars for the Bear Aware Apple Share Festival @ Ten Spoon Winery, Sunday October 28th, 12-4 p.m.  More details on this website.

Update Sept. 2012: Bears are active in the Rattlesnake now! Please go to missoulabears.org to report sightings or for guidance on preventing bear-human conflicts.

Update 9/10/2012: Volunteer! Fill out our contact form if you need help harvesting your own fruit trees, or if you want to help out by volunteering with Great Bear Foundation or RCWG to pick apples around the valley.  Thanks!

Update 9/12/2012: Read more about Rattlesnake apples and bears in today’s Missoulian.

The RCWG has received a grant from the City of Missoula to coordinate a collaborative Rattlesnake Bear Aware Apple Share project.

Bears populate the Rattlesnake Valley from top to bottom, and bear-human encounters are now a persistent problem, especially when fruit ripens in the Valley from July to November.

In partnership with existing efforts like Missoula Bears and the Great Bear Foundation, this project will:

1) Create an information clearinghouse of existing apple harvesting and processing resources, including gleaning programs and options for tree typing, maintenance, protection, and replacement;

2) Develop a value-added apple products feasibility inquiry and report;

3) Raise awareness through websites, maps, an educational flyer, tabling events, and classroom presentations;

4) Celebrate our work during a fall Bear Aware and Apple Share event at Ten Spoon Winery.

The Bear Aware Apple Share project is just getting started and we’d love your help. Contact us through the links on this website, or “like us” on Facebook. Thanks!

Note: Please check out Missoula Bears for guidance on protecting bears by keeping them out of your yard, garbage, fruit trees, etc. Go to the missoulabears.org website to report bear sightings; if the situation requires a more immediate response, contact Montana Fish Wildlife & Parks 406-542-5500 or call 911.