Bear Activity at Heart Mountain Ranch
Written by Andrew-Rossi on October 24, 2017
Heart Mountain Ranch Preserve is temporarily closed to hiking and other recreation due to bear activity in the vicinity.
Bears are normally very active at this time of year in the Northern Rockies and ranch managers say they want to take every precaution possible to prevent any conflicts between people and bears — for the safety and health of both.
The Nature Conservancy’s 13,000-acre Heart Mountain Ranch Preserve, on the north and east slopes of the mountain, is home to both a resident herd of elk as well as a large herd that migrates there in the winter. The preserve is also the location of the trailhead that many people use to trek to the top of Heart Mountain.
Ranch staff say they will be monitoring the trail for signs of bears and will make a determination of when there seems to be less activity, and at that time, they will reopen the preserve to public use.
