Colorado, Montana launch $1 million grants for bear conflict prevention

Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) has announced a new round of funding through its Human-Bear Conflict Reduction Community Grant Program, offering $1 million to help local communities address the rising incidents of human-bear conflicts, which increased nearly 15% from 2023 to 2024. Eligible applicants can receive grants ranging from $50,000 to $500,000, aimed at reducing attractants like trash that lead to conflicts with black bears. The program, established in 2021, has previously awarded nearly $3 million to various communities across Colorado. Similarly, Montana is launching the Community-Bear Conflict Prevention Efforts Fund, which provides up to $1 million for community-led initiatives to adopt bear-resistant infrastructure and educational programs to mitigate human-wildlife conflicts. Both programs emphasize the importance of innovative, non-lethal strategies to manage bear populations and enhance safety for residents and wildlife. Applications for Colorado's grants are open until May 30, 2025, while Montana's first funding round has a deadline of March 24.