Bears, fruit trees and gleaning in Northwest Montana
A black bear snacks on an apple tree in 2022. (Courtesy photo)
Northwest Montana’s landscapes are a haven for both people and wildlife. Fruit trees can be a valuable addition to local gardens; however, black bears and grizzly bears need to be considered, especially once the fruit is growing and ripening. Bears in Montana are foraging throughout the year, but during late summer and fall they enter into a stage known as hyperphagia and their search for calories intensifies as they engage in a non stop feeding extravaganza to prepare for hibernation. This is also a time when fruit trees are producing delicious meals. Bears are looking for low hanging fruit (pun intended), and uncollected fruit—on the tree and ground—may attract bears to the area and increase the likelihood of bear-human conflicts. Securing attractants and managing fruit production is crucial to prevent these conflicts.
Ensuring that fruit trees are well-maintained is one proactive way to minimize bear attractants and make for a better harvest. Regular pruning helps maintain tree health and encourages better fruit production. It also makes it easier to pick fruit and cuts down on the amount of unharvested fruit falling to the ground. Consistently picking fruit when ripe and removing any fallen fruit helps reduce bear attractants.
When a person has had their fill of fruit, it’s important to keep picking, as fruit gleaning involves collecting leftover or surplus fruit. Not only does this prevent fruit from going to waste, but it keeps bears from accessing it and making an association between humans and a food resource.. For some, it is possible to collect fruit themselves and share it with neighbors or donate it to local organizations like food banks, wildlife sanctuaries, or cideries. Fruit gleaning can also be a chance to bring people together. Fruit gleaning programs organize volunteers to collect fruit on public and private property throughout a given area. Gleaning events can be organized through local non-profits or community groups, ensuring that excess fruit is harvested and distributed to those in need while removing bear attractants. Gleaning events can also culminate in fall cider festivals, showing off ways to use excess fruit. A number of fruit gleaning community efforts exist in northwest Montana, including the Great Bear Foundation’s Bears and Apples program in Missoula; Montana Fish, Wildlife, and Parks’ Northwest Montana fruit donation program in mid-September where all fruit is donated to the Grizzly and Wolf Discovery Center in West Yellowstone; and Facebook pages like Flathead Fruit Gleaning, Kootenai Fruit Gleaning, and Mission Valley Fruit Gleaning.
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