FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Tuesday, August 26, 2025
New Funding Available for Community-Led Bear Conflict Prevention
Montanans learning to live and work 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 second round of the Montana Community-Bear Conflict Prevention Efforts Fund will award an additional $750,000 to support community-led, non-lethal carnivore conflict prevention tools through the geographic range of grizzly bears in Montana. The application window is currently open for this round of funding, and it will close on October 3, 2025. Communities and organizations interested in applying can find more details and project guidelines at https://heart-of-rockies.org/ccr/grants/application-materials/ .
Nearly $500,000 awarded during the first round of funding in March is currently supporting nine projects, including local Bear Aware and Bear Smart programs in Alberton, Gardiner, and Choteau, bear-resistant garbage cans and dumpsters in communities like Anaconda and Seeley Lake, educational signage and outreach events in Troy and Whitefish, and a perimeter electric fence around the Powell County landfill.
“Reducing conflicts starts with simple, local actions — from using bear-resistant dumpsters to securing livestock feed and teaching kids how to be safe outdoors,” said Steve Primm, Conflict Reduction Manager at Heart of the Rockies Initiative. “As grizzlies expand into new areas, communities are finding that these straightforward steps make daily life safer for both people and wildlife. This program is here to help support and strengthen those community-led efforts on the ground.”
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 $5,000 and a maximum of $150,000.
Funding Source
The Montana Community-Bear Conflict Prevention Efforts Fund is part of a broader public-private partnership that is expanding the use of non-lethal wildlife conflict prevention tools in both communities and agricultural settings.
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. The grant funding program is being administered by Heart of the Rockies Initiative, a nonprofit organization dedicated to conservation and land stewardship in the Rocky Mountain region.
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 with a common objective to increase the pace of durable private land conservation in the Transboundary Rocky Mountains. Today, Heart of the Rockies Initiative partners with 30 local, regional, and national land trust members to find lasting, locally-driven solutions to the social-ecological challenges across the region. In addition to our work with 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 properties and communities. Learn more at www.heart-of-rockies.org.
