Montana Black Bear Notice: In light of the rising frequency of serious incidents between humans and black bears, the Montana Department of Fish and Game is advising hikers, hunters, and fishermen to take extra precautions and keep alert for black bears while in the field. We advise that outdoorsmen wear noisy little bells on their clothing as a warning, so as not to startle bears that aren't expecting them. We also advise outdoorsmen to carry pepper spray with them in case of a close encounter with a bear. Additionally,it is a good idea to watch out for fresh signs of bear activity. Outdoorsmen should also be able to recognize the difference between the black bear and its more ferocious cousin, the grizzly bear: While the tracks for the two species of bear are quite similar, the black bear dung is smaller and contains lots of berries and squirrel fur. On the other hand, the grizzly bear dung has little bells in it and smells like pepper.