Tips for bear-weary huckleberry pickers

By Diane Tipton
Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks Statewide Information Officer

Sure, he looks cute now, but bears are dangerous wild animals that also love ripe berries. This darling was spotted outside a home and had even entered the residence. (B.L. Azure photo)

Those who crave the huckleberry are already scouting their favorite berry patches-and that includes Montana's bears.

Montana's black and grizzly bears savor the purple berries and will eat for days in a good huckleberry patch. That means huckleberry pickers need to be on the lookout for bears at all times, and prepared to yield the berry patch to them. That's right, huckleberries are valuable but they are not worth a conflict with a bear.

Here are some tips on how to stay on the right side of the huckleberry bush:
• Pack bear spray with you and know how to use it.
• Avoid picking berries in the early mornings or late evenings when bears are likely to be more active.
• When you find a patch of berries check the area for bear sign, including bear scat with berries in it and upturned rocks.
• Make noise or talk and sing as you walk so you can be heard.
• Avoid picking huckleberries alone if possible.
• Keep talking as you pick to stay in touch with your picking partners and so bears can hear you.
• Talk to yourself aloud if you are picking berries alone.
• Remain aware of your surroundings as time passes-concentrate on using your senses of sight, smell and sound.
• If you see a bear in the distance, move quietly away.
• Avoid getting between a bear and the berries.
• Avoid getting between a female bear and her cubs.

The bear probably needs the calories more than you do, and if it is a good berry year and you start out soon enough in the season, there will be other berry patches available.