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Nakota
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# Posted: 20 Aug 2015 15:43
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Hi, I'm new here. I'm a small town girl, love the outdoors, and my hubby has the idea of getting a remote cabin in western Montana (just for a getaway retreat). I am terrified at the thought of grizzlies roaming around. My dogs would bark, I imagine the grizzly would be curious and rip the door off the cabin (this is the way my mind worries). LOL Would an electric fence around the property keep a grizzly away? Would a loud truck horn scare a bear away? I'd be scared to walk the dogs (hiking) during the day. Anyone have any words to give me a little peace of mind? Please? LOL
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turkeyhunter
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# Posted: 20 Aug 2015 16:42
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Remington 870 / plug out 5 rounds of 00Buckshot and you are all set...enjoy the new experience in Montana !!!
Every camp or cabin in bear territory needs a weapon to defend yourself!!!
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LoonWhisperer
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# Posted: 20 Aug 2015 16:51 - Edited by: LoonWhisperer
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^That's how I roll! 
(That said, I do think the odds are slim of any kind of dangerous encounter but always best to take some steps to minimize the risk and be able to protect yourself)
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Mtnviewer
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# Posted: 20 Aug 2015 17:18 - Edited by: Mtnviewer
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Anything is possible, but generally encounters with grizzlies are not likely. Due to your fear, why not think of getting a cabin that is NOT in grizzly territory? That way you would both win.
In my decades of living in grizzly country, I RARELY see them, more rarely see them up close & thankfully have never surprised them up close. But I do see tracks of them having been here. I see or encounter black bears nearly every day at times but less so as summer turns to autumn. I've NEVER had a bad encounter with any bear. Observing them, they remind me very much of dogs in their intelligence & behavior. Black bears that I encounter mostly run away, other than those that live entirely in my area but whose first reaction is still fear & to run or climb but then when they hear my voice or get my scent they know that I am not a threat to them nor them to me & they just carry on looking for food. But anything is possible & I never take them for granted. The grizzlies do not stick around my property vs. just pass through in the spring & fall. If they did stick around, I'd be even more cautious, especially of surprising them, or I'd move.
Living in bear, wolf & cougar territory, I have chosen NOT to provide them with a reason for aggression. I do not have anything that would attract them other than spring grass. I do not keep food, animals or garbage around to attract them. I don't BBQ on the deck. My compost pile is quite a way from my house. If bears want to churn up the compost pile, I thank them as it saves me the trouble. Most people that I read of that have constant bear problems have some sort of attractant. I'd rather have wildlife on my property for me to observe than a garden, or livestock or livestock as pets, there are enough of those in the world is how I see it. Surprises on walks can't always be avoided but I've never had one with a grizzly.
Electric fences may be a short term aid but it depends on what you are trying to keep them from? If a bear wants something, over time, it will figure out a way to get it. With electric fencing, you MUST be willing to maintain it & NOT FORGET to keep it turned on. Most folks are not that detail orientated & it just takes forgetting once, or having a short, or not knowing that there is a short or repair needed. Not having attractants such as food for them is easier to accomplish.
Many attacks from bears of both kinds & cougars happen to people walking dogs. Dogs can provide warnings but they can also be attractants. Generally though, your dogs will likely keep bears away by their presence or barking. Bears would prefer to avoid an encounter with dogs or people if possible. Many bear attacks happen because of dogs or people surprising bears on trails. Dogs naturally can act aggressively toward the bear & it seems natural that some bears will act defensively or aggressively back. When out hiking alone, it's a good idea to make noise but generally dogs don't do that until it is too late. I DO NOT LIKE HIKING WITH DOGS in bear country. A distant neighbor has 2 Great Pyranees that supposedly help keep predators away from his hobby sheep. The friggin' dogs do this by patrolling their property & barking & barking & barking, day & night. I hate dogs constantly barking when being at my cabin in the "wilderness". But he doesn't seem to mind the barking nor care if it bothers others.
Visiting dogs outside my place seem to also do that, as any smell or noise seems to set them off. Thankfully these noisy dogs are only visiting. (I love dogs, just not barking dogs.) So IME, dogs are a poor solution & add more to the problem than they solve. Again, maybe think of a cabin NOT in grizzly bear country, I certainly would if I wanted dogs around more than bears.
IMO, hike on your own & leave the dogs at home & walk them elsewhere vs. forest trails. Make noise while you hike but that does get tiring & eventually you stop. I carry bear spray, bear bangers & an air horn for surprise encounters. They have yet to be needed. Do not leave the dogs outside all the time as they can be attractants, if not to a bear, then to a cougar. But again, generally dogs will repel them. ry not to have ANYTHING outside to attract bears, ie: foods. Don't even leave food or garbage on a porch while you are there or especially if you & your dogs are away, (a grizzly was recently killed because of repeated raids to a freezer on an unreinforced porch, leaving 2 cubs as orphans just because a human wanted to live selfishly in bear country).
Finally, despite minding my own business & trying very hard not to EVER bother anyone, I've STILL only had problems with people, both strangers & neighbors. They always seem to want something that I've got. My bet is that you will too & will not likely ever see a grizzly bear. I am FAR MORE afraid of people than of the wildlife. The wildlife of grizzlies, black bears, cougars, wolves, lynx, moose, elk, deer, etc., have never ever been a problem when I've been living amongst them. I've only had one wildlife problem & that was being stung by a few wasps when I inadvertently week wacked their hidden nest. But anything is possible.
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Nakota
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# Posted: 20 Aug 2015 17:45
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Thank you all for your replies. Mtnviewer, thanks for so much info. Yes, I keep telling him lets get a lake cabin in Minnesota (I know there are black bears but they're not quite as scary to me), but he loves the mountains of Montana. And yes, people scare me more than wildlife, too, (except for grizzlies and mountain lions). Hopefully, I can get a compromise to a place closer to a town rather than so remote and secluded. Thank you again.
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NorthRick
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# Posted: 20 Aug 2015 17:46
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I agree with some of what Mtnviewer said and disagree some other things.
We have a remote cabin in Alaska and are very much in bear country. The main line of defense for the cabin is an electric fence. Ours is a weekend cabin and sits unoccupied most of the time. All our bear problems occur when we are not there. The electric fence has worked very well for us and has kept the bears from messing with the cabin, outhouse, and root cellar, all which are within the boundaries of the fence.
I don't know how many hundreds miles of hiking and canoeing in bear country I have logged with dogs and never had a problem with bears. I couldn't imagine having a dog and going for a hike in the woods while leaving it locked up.
I carry a shotgun going to and from the cabin. My wife will not, and so we've armed her with bear spray. While we've seen plenty of bears, we've yet to use either of these on one.
Bears are a risk, but a very small one. Take some reasonable precautions and you shouldn't have any real problems.
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Nakota
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# Posted: 20 Aug 2015 18:00
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Thank you NorthRick. Your advice is also duly noted. You guys rock!
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toyota_mdt_tech
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# Posted: 20 Aug 2015 18:09
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Just keep in mind, you may never have a grizzly encounter, right up until the time you do. Then what? A rifle capable of eliminating the threat. This doesnt always mean the bear encounter needs to lead to his/her death. It can deter also.
Carry one, and hope it never gets used or dont and hope you never get attacked. A experienced hiker/back country guy was just eaten by a grizzly in Yellowstone just a few weeks ago. But he didnt even carry bear spray. Try wasp and hornet spray too, very effective, sprays much further too, cheaper also, and your rifle.
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toyota_mdt_tech
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# Posted: 20 Aug 2015 18:13
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Just keep in mind, you may never have a grizzly encounter, right up until the time you do. Then what? A rifle capable of eliminating the threat. This doesnt always mean the bear encounter needs to lead to his/her death. It can deter also.
Carry one, and hope it never gets used or dont and hope you never get attacked. A experienced hiker/back country guy was just eaten by a grizzly in Yellowstone just a few weeks ago. But he didnt even carry bear spray. Try wasp and hornet spray too, very effective, sprays much further too, cheaper also, and your rifle.
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PatrickH
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# Posted: 20 Aug 2015 18:13
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My dad lived in western montana on Petty creek mountain for 30 years and we would spend summers there doing what kids do. We never even thought about being attacked by anything.We would explore the mountains and wilderness all the time and we would run into bears here and there but it was never a big deal.The scariest animal encounter I had was when a big boar tried running me down,those things are mean.Every once in a while my dad would shoot to scare them but that was only if they got too close to the house.I think you would do fine once your there and see how not scary it really is.
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hattie
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# Posted: 20 Aug 2015 19:26
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For grizzlies always carry a gun, bear bangers, and bear spray if you go out hiking. If you leave your cabin unattended put spike boards on the shuttered windows and a spike board at the doors (spikes facing out obviously). Keep your food in a cache up off the ground between two trees. An electric fence would definitely help but you can't absolutely count on it.
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MtnDon
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# Posted: 20 Aug 2015 19:40 - Edited by: MtnDon
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bears and electric fences
and another and another
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upndown
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# Posted: 20 Aug 2015 21:46
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I think an electric fence would be an acceptable detourent for an unwelcomed visitor. A little Zap and off they go. But if something like a Grizzly were to breech that perimeter and make it to the front door or a window and it came down to protecting my family or myself from the for warned intruder...well I think you all know the answer to that.
A friend that recently passed spent over 40 years in Bethel Alaska, logged countless hours hunting and fishing, also raised 3 children without any dangerous bear encounters. Saw plenty but was always in awe of them. A little common sense always seems to go a long way in nature!
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Rdkng07
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# Posted: 20 Aug 2015 22:43
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Well, you could get a couple Caucasian Ovcharkas. (Caucasian Shepherds)
They claim they are very good protection against bears or anything else for that matter.
I think a couple of these could have their way with a 700 lb grizz if it came down to it. Although while they had it's attention I think I would use that as a good time to leave the area.
The only problem I see is keeping them fed.
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toofewweekends
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# Posted: 21 Aug 2015 02:33
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We're also in AK, and have bears in the 'hood. We're very careful with food/trash, and have not had bad problems -- more teenage bear stuff, like batting the burn barrel around. We take bear spray with us on trails, a 12g shotgun sometimes (I'd favor slugs), and making noise helps. Up here at least, the odds of a bad encounter go down as the number of people go up -- so keep hubby and the dog walking with you and enjoy the country.
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Nakota
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# Posted: 21 Aug 2015 15:23
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Thank you all for your replies. It does help give me a little more peace of mind. You all came thru with some good advice. 
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creeky
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# Posted: 21 Aug 2015 20:27
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Bear spray may help. I know I prefer my meat with a bit of pepper.
Attacks do happen. Usually with black bears, grizzly attacks are super rare. Your chances of being hit by lightening are far greater. Or by a car. Of course much much higher. But not by a comet. That's lower. Of course then slipping in the bath, way higher. Electrocution using the toaster. The same?
Coming down the mountain, mountain biking in Kananaskis we saw a grizzly feeding on a moose. he or she growled at us and we thought, well, time to move on.
Camping in New Brunswick, national park. In the middle of the night I heard "creeeeeeeak." Giant black bear climbed up on the picnic table and licked a drop of wine that I had tried to feed to a red squirrel up. There was big clean spot the next morning.
Seriously. They're so cute. How can you be afraid of a little ol' bear. Just tickle 'em under the chin. Coochie coochie coo.
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Just
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# Posted: 21 Aug 2015 21:17
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I once tracked a big black bear in the snow all day . At 4 pm I said I quit I'm heading home . TURNED AROUND AND THERE HE WAS , WHO WAS HUNTING WHO ??
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groingo
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# Posted: 22 Aug 2015 17:24
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Griz are well documented to have long memories, can be vindictive and always gets even when crossed, this is in no way an animal to take lightly, if your are in Griz country always carry a loaded BIG gun or better yet stay out of their realm.
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DRR
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# Posted: 28 Nov 2015 20:52
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Check out the mountains of central Montana. Not grizzly country, but the rare occasional one could pass through. There are black bears though.
And the real estate will be much cheaper overall than western Montana.
I personally enjoy the Little Belt Mountains.
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OutdoorFanatic
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# Posted: 28 Nov 2015 21:53
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Had a conversation with a friend just the other day about this.
To me, a Bear walking around outside is just a Bear walking around outside.
But if and when they turn the doorknob, thats a different story.
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KinAlberta
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# Posted: 28 Nov 2015 21:55
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Or head a few more miles (kilometres) north into Alberta.
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Julie2Oregon
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# Posted: 29 Nov 2015 05:35
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Don't move into grizzly habitat. I sure as heck wouldn't. Check out the state website and see if the Wildlife Dept. has the species habitats mapped out. I've looked at such a map for the area in Oregon where my land is. Bald eagle nesting areas, mule deer, elk herds, bear, etc. It's all there. (I don't have bear near me -- not that some might not show up now and then, of course.) Bears seem to be curious but not eager to engage with humans. They'll seek out easy sources of food so you just have to take precautions.
Frankly, I'm more concerned about the cats. Cougar, mountain lions, bobcats, and the like. They stalk and are more likely to jump you and your animals from behind. I'm planning on having chickens so keeping them safe is a concern. I'll be getting a Great Pyrenees that someone previously mentioned and can't stand, lol. They're good protectors for livestock, though. I'm planning to have an electric perimeter fence, eventually, too -- found a solar-powered battery pack to electrify it.
Move where you feel comfortable! You and your partner should be able to find a place that will make you both happy!
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ColdFlame
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# Posted: 30 Nov 2015 12:54
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Quoting: KinAlberta Or head a few more miles (kilometres) north into Alberta.
Though I agree with that, the price of land down in Montana is still insanely cheap compared to here. That said, with the value of our dollar to the greenback right now, she could make off like a bandit perhaps. Particularly down in the Crowsnest Pass area.
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AKfisher
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# Posted: 30 Nov 2015 19:11
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It appears that you have a fairly large fear of bears, now think of what bears fear... They fear humans and anything associated with humans (ie dogs). I hike, bike, float, fish and hunt all over Alaska and have encountered Brown and Grizzly bears and trust me they don't want to see you just as much as you don't want to see them. I always bring my dog, they will smell a bear much sooner then you will (bears stink). But I always carry a firearm and bear spray. Carry the .44 revolver or the 45-70 lever action and have bear spray on my pack. The wife carries bear spray as well. A bear bell on the dogs back pack or collar works well.
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