Kalispell FWP Office Seeks Fruit Donations to Reduce Bear Attractants

KALISPELL, MT — Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks is seeking fruit donations from Flathead Valley residents next week to help reduce bear attractants while supporting wildlife conservation efforts.

The agency will accept fruit donations at its Kalispell office at 490 N. Meridian Road from Monday through Friday, Sept. 8-12, during regular business hours from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

“Fruit trees are a big attractant for bears in residential areas during the fall,” said FWP Bear Management Specialist Justine Vallieres. “By donating fruit, landowners can help keep bears out of trouble and support the Discovery Center.”

The collection effort serves dual purposes: reducing food attractants that draw bears into residential neighborhoods and providing food for captive bears at the Grizzly & Wolf Discovery Center in West Yellowstone that can no longer survive in the wild.

Bear Conflicts Continue Statewide

Montana has recorded 121 grizzly bear conflicts so far in 2025, according to FWP’s online tracking dashboard. The most common conflict type involves livestock depredation, with 46 incidents where animals were killed. Bears accessing unnatural food sources accounted for 34 incidents, while direct human interactions totaled 31 cases.

Note: FWP’s conflict dashboard currently shows 121 total incidents for 2025, down from 139 reported in August. Western Montana News has contacted FWP for clarification on the data discrepancy.

Bear Aware Month Initiatives

The fruit collection coincides with September’s designation as Bear Aware Month in Montana, featuring educational events statewide and a contest partnership between FWP, Lee Enterprises of Montana, Amplified Digital and Town Pump offering a $4,000 prize package.

“Bears are curious and food driven,” the agency noted in its announcement. “Feeding bears puts people and bears at risk. Securing or removing attractants will greatly reduce the chances of a conflict with a bear.”

As archery hunting season begins and bear activity increases in preparation for winter, officials emphasize the importance of proper food storage and attractant management.

Reporting Bear Activity

FWP urges residents to immediately report bears accessing garbage or other food sources on their properties, noting that quick response increases the likelihood of favorable outcomes for both people and bears.

In northwest Montana, residents should contact:

• North portion of Flathead County and Eureka area: Justine Vallieres, (406) 250-1265
• South portion of Flathead County and the Swan: Erik Wenum, (406) 250-0062
• Cabinet-Yaak ecosystem and Sanders County: Garrett Tovey, (406) 291-1320
• Flathead Indian Reservation: Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes Wildlife Management Program, (406) 275-2774

For more information about Bear Aware Month and the statewide contest, visit fwp.mt.gov/bear-aware.