Fall Wildlife Festival focuses on bears and stewardship

It’s fall, leaves are turning color, apples are ripening, and wildlife are preparing for that “W” word – winter.

It’s time for the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes Fall Wildlife Festival. In its third year, the event will be held Sept. 30 at the Ronan Visitor’s Center, next to Glacier Bank, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Last year’s event was primarily centered on bears and apples, according to Kaylie Durglo, wildlife biologist with Tribal Wildlife Management. The focus widens this year to include all wildlife and land stewardship on the CSKT reservation.

As part of that expansion, wildlife biologists will be presenting information on chronic wasting disease awareness at the festival.

Durglo said the stewardship piece also includes fruit gleaning this time of year.

“Bears are entering hyperphagia,” Durglo explained, when they are very active and searching for food to shore up their fat stores before they den up for the winter.

By gleaning, or harvesting fruit and picking up fallen fruit, people can lessen temptations for the bears. If people don’t or can’t use the fruit, it can go to the local food bank or be shared with friends and neighbors.

Also, Durglo said the festival will offer information on recreating in bear country as well as how to use bear spray.

“Overall this year the bear conflicts have been pretty low,” she noted. For cider fans, there will be cider presses. Please bring your own jars and apples, she said.

Rounding out the festival will be local market vendors and artists plus food trucks for hungry or thirsty visitors.