Tribal grizzly bear management zone closed

FLATHEAD RESERVATION — McDonald Peak and the surrounding areas in the Mission Mountains Tribal Wilderness will close to recreational activities on July 15 and remain closed until Oct. 1. This area known as the Grizzly Bear Management Zone is closed annually in order to avoid human disturbance to grizzly bear activity.

Grizzly bears have historically gathered in this area to feed on army cutworm moths that concentrate in the areas during the months of July, August and September. This closure will assure human safety and allow grizzly bears to use this important area during the summer.

The closure allows many bears to remain at high elevations longer each year and gain additional weight, which may result in fewer human confrontations when the grizzly bears go to lower elevation sites in the fall.

The closure extends from Post Creek South to the divide between Ashley and Mission Creeks from the Western edge of the Tribal Wilderness to the Mission Divide. Included in the closed areas are Ashley, Duncan, Ice Flow, and Lake of the Clouds, Cliff, Disappointment and First Lakes. All trails within the areas will be posted and patrolled by Tribal Fish & Game Enforcement Officers.

There are a number of alternative camping areas and peaks in the Mission Mountains for hikers in both the Forest Service Wilderness and the Mission Mountains Tribal Wilderness. The closure does not include McDonald Lake, Summit Lake, Eagle Pass, and other trails and lakes. The 10,000-acre closure is only ten percent of the Mission Range and is essentially without trails.

Caution should be exercised when visiting the areas outside the closure.

For more information, call Dale Becker, Tribal Wildlife Management Program, Les Bigcrane, Tribal Wildland Recreation Program or Germaine White at 883-2888.