The public is invited to join Yellowstone Wildlife Sanctuary in Red Lodge in its efforts to reduce human-bear conflicts on Saturday. People Awareness Day at YWS is an opportunity to gain experience about bear behavior and learn how to avoid encounters and conflicts with this dangerous predator.

“People Awareness Day is for people!” the organizers say in a release. “Bears are smart and adaptive learners. From their behavior, they demonstrate that they know a lot about humans. It’s time for people to become keenly aware of living in bear country.”

There will be keeper talks, demonstrations, and bear spray training offered all day at the Sanctuary. Hours are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.. During the day, YWS resident bears, Bo and Bluebeary, will be showing visitors just how smart bears are and how quickly they learn.

People Awareness Day is part of YWS’ month-long bear awareness program designed to educate the public about the presence of bears in the area and how to avoid encounters. Special guests will include Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks bear specialist (unless they are on an urgent bear call) and members of Bear Smart Beartooth, an organization of volunteers in Red Lodge who work to encourage humans to adopt smart habits to avoid attracting bears. Protecting yourself and protecting the bear is this group’s focus.

This event starts a season of activities to encourage awareness for bears in Red Lodge and Carbon County. Each day during May, YWS will offer keeper talks at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. These talks will provide needed information about bears and their habits and habitats.

On Sunday afternoon, June 21, YWS will host a Grizzly Rendezvous at Silvertip Restaurant and Bar in Belfry. The public will be invited to attend for bear spray training and bring their best bear tale for the Best Bear Story Contest.

Watch throughout the summer as bear education takes place county-wide in Carbon County. For more information, contact BR Walker, Executive Director, 406-426-1135 or sign up for the YWS newsletter online at yellowstonewildlifesanctuary.org.

About the Yellowstone Wildlife Sanctuary

The Yellowstone Wildlife Sanctuary is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization with the mission of providing lifelong sanctuary to nonreleasable greater Yellowstone ecosystem wildlife while sharing a message of conservation and education. The Sanctuary has been providing safe, comfortable homes and long, fulfilling lives to animals whose only other option is euthanasia. Find out more at YellowstoneWildlifeSanctuary.org and schedule a tour.