FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Monday, March 10, 2025
Contact:
Nathan Owens, Policy Director
Heart of the Rockies Initiative
801.870.0670
New Funding Available for Community-Led Bear Conflict Prevention
Montanans living and working around grizzly bears are invited to apply for funding to help their communities adopt bear-resistant infrastructure and public education initiatives aimed at reducing human-wildlife conflicts.
The Montana Community-Bear Conflict Prevention Efforts Fund will provide up to $1 million to support community-led, non-lethal carnivore conflict prevention tools through the geographic range of grizzly bears in Montana. The application deadline for the first round of funding is March 24, 2025. Communities and organizations interested in applying can find more details and project guidelines at https://heart-of-rockies.org/ccr/grants/application-materials/.
“Investing in bear-resistant infrastructure and education is one of the smartest ways to prevent conflicts,” said Steve Primm, Conflict Reduction Manager at Heart of the Rockies Initiative. “As grizzly populations expand, more communities are learning what it takes to live and work alongside them. This program is intended to adopt the community-led tools that are most proactive and effective at increasing safety for bears and humans.”
Funding Source
The Montana Community-Bear Conflict Prevention Efforts Fund is part of a broader public-private partnership that is providing resources to ranchers, farmers, and communities to expand the use of non-lethal wildlife conflict prevention tools.
Funding is provided through the America the Beautiful Challenge grant program administered by the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation and awarded to Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks.
“It is critical our department works with Montana communities to help provide the funding to implement tools and educate the public on the best ways of reducing human-wildlife conflicts,” said FWP Director Christy Clark.
The grant funding program is being administered by Heart of the Rockies Initiative, a Montana nonprofit organization focused on private land conservation in the Rocky Mountain region and supporting landowners in their efforts to sustain working lands and wildlife habitat.
Grant Eligibility
Eligible applicants include Tribal, county, and municipal governments, school districts, and nonprofit organizations. These grants operate on a reimbursement basis, covering costs incurred by recipients for the following community investments:
- Bear-resistant waste solutions – Purchase and distribution of bear-resistant garbage cans, dumpsters, grease traps, and food storage lockers.
- Infrastructure improvements – Establishing or upgrading rural transfer stations to better secure attractants.
- Public outreach and education – Developing educational materials and programs to increase public awareness about bear safety.
- Electric fencing – Installing portable or permanent electric fencing and electric drive-over mats to protect orchards, compost piles, garbage, livestock, and grain storage.
- Program support – Funding staff time dedicated to community-led conflict reduction and education efforts.
Applicants may request a minimum of $10,000 and a maximum of $150,000.
In addition to supporting community-led projects, these resources are being deployed to assist agricultural producers and landowner-led groups adopt and expand conflict prevention strategies such as carcass removal programs, electric fencing, and range rider initiatives.
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Heart of the Rockies Initiative was founded in 2002 as a partnership of local, regional, and national land trusts to ensure landowners have options to conserve their properties and keep critical landscapes intact and connected. In addition to our work with 30 land trust members, as an inherently collaborative organization, we partner with a variety of groups working toward similar goals to bring more funding to the region and help meet the demand of landowners and rural residents to conserve and manage their farms, ranches, wildlife populations, and communities. Learn more at www.heart-of-rockies.org.Fr
