Be Careful Playing golf

THE MONTANA STATE DEPARTMENT OF FISH AND WILDLIFE IS ADVISING GOLFERS TO TAKE EXTRA PRECAUTIONS AND BE ON THE ALERT FOR BEARS WHILE PLAYING ON GALLATIN, HELENA, AND LEWIS AND CLARK NATIONAL FOREST GOLF COURSES.
THEY ADVISE GOLFERS TO WEAR NOISE-PRODUCING DEVICES SUCH AS LITTLE BELLS ON THE CLOTHING TO ALERT, BUT NOT TO STARTLE THE BEARS UNEXPECTEDLY.

THEY ALSO ADVISE YOU TO CARRY PEPPER SPRAY IN THE CASE OF AN ENCOUNTER WITH A BEAR. IT IS ALSO A GOOD IDEA TO WATCH FOR SIGNS OF BEAR ACTIVITY.

GOLFERS SHOULD BE ABLE TO RECOGNIZE THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN BLACK BEAR AND GRIZZLY BEAR DROPPINGS ON THE GOLF COURSE.

BLACK BEAR DROPPINGS ARE SMALLER AND CONTAIN BERRIES AND POSSIBLY SQUIRREL FUR.

GRIZZLY BEAR DROPPINGS HAVE BELTS, GOLF-GLOVES AND SUNGLASSES IN THEM AND SMELL LIKE PEPPER SPRAY.