Well, the bears are waking up in Glacier National Park. Since the start of the month there have been at least three separate track sightings, and at least one bruin was compelled to dig a hole in the Belly River area.

Tracks were spotted by visitors near Many Glacier and Lake McDonald, according to park officials.

“With these early March reports of bear activity, park visitors are reminded to be alert for bear activity and to be familiar with and comply with safety regulations," said Glacier Superintendent Chas Cartwright.

With hungry bears roaming about, park officials are suggesting that visitors travel in groups and make loud noise by calling out and/or clapping their hands at frequent intervals, especially near streams and at blind spots and curves on trails. These actions will help avoid surprise encounters. Do not approach any wildlife; instead, use binoculars, telescopes, or telephoto lenses to get closer looks.

Visitors are also reminded to keep food, garbage and other attractants stored in hard-sided vehicles or bear-proof food storage boxes when not in use. Garbage must be deposited into a bear-resistant trash can or dumpster. These actions help keep bears from becoming conditioned to human food, and help keep park visitors and their personal property safe.

“It is important to note that Glacier National Park is in the heart of grizzly country. That is one of the reasons many people visit the park each year. We encourage park visitors to carry, and know how to properly use, bear pepper spray as a deterrent for a charging grizzly bear," said Superintendent Cartwright.

No single deterrent is 100 percent effective, but compared to all others, including firearms, proper use of bear spray has proven to be the best method for fending off threatening and attacking bears, and for preventing injury to the person and animal involved, according to the park.

While it's now legal to carry a firearm in a national park, as long as the applicable state laws allow it, Glacier managers agree with Montana Fish, Wildlife, and Parks’ statement: "If you are armed, use a firearm only as a last resort. Wounding a bear, even with a large caliber gun, can put you in far greater danger."

According to U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service investigations of human-bear encounters since 1992, persons encountering grizzlies and defending themselves with firearms suffered injury about 50 percent of the time. During the same period, persons defending themselves with pepper spray escaped injury most of the time and those that were injured experienced shorter duration attacks and less severe injuries.

Web site links of interest:

• U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, Tips for Living and Recreating in Grizzly Bear Country: http://www.fws.gov/mountain-prairie/species/mammals/grizzly/fact_sheets.htm

• Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks, Encountering a Bear: http://fwp.mt.gov/recreation/safety/wildlife/bears/bearEncounter.html

• Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks, Bear Pepper Spray: http://fwp.mt.gov/recreation/safety/wildlife/bears/bearSpray.html

Visitors to Glacier are asked to report any bear sightings or signs of bear activity to the nearest visitor center, ranger station or by calling 406-888-7800 as soon as possible. This information helps park rangers keep bears away from unnatural food sources, as well as prevents bears from becoming habituated to humans.

Although famed naturalist and conservationist John Muir once said, "It is far safer to wander into God's woods than to travel on black highways or to stay at home," Glacier National Park can be filled with many potential dangers.

“We want everyone to have a safe experience while enjoying the park,” said Superintendent Cartwright, who suggested visitors to check out the park’s web page at http://www.nps.gov/glac/planyourvisit/yoursafety.htm for details about: Bears, Water, Wildlife, Mountain Lions and Watch Your Step. “These potential hazards are not mentioned to scare people but rather to remind everyone to be prepared, be familiar with their equipment and know their personal limitations. Glacier National Park is a wonderland to explore and experience during each of its many seasons, but we want park visitors to have a safe outing."