The History and Future of Wildlife Shepherding with Karelian Bear Dogs

Wildlife shepherding is a management technique developed by the Wind River Bear Institute-Karelian Bear Dog Partners in Florence, Montana, to address conflicts between humans and problem wildlife, with a focus on bears, thereby reducing human-caused bear mortalities. Annually over the past 24 years, more than 800 actions on bears have been taken with the help from federal, state, provincial, and private partners, with no injuries to bears, dogs, or humans! 

 

Wind River Program Biologist Jessica Reyes with Karelian Bear Dogs, Mowgli and Joni, will discuss the program, and talk about camping in bear country and measures to take to avoid encounters and conflicts.