Looking for a career change? The Department of the Interior’s US Fish and Wildlife Service is offering $79,363 - $103,176 per year for a Grizzly Bear Conflict Manager in Montana.
What exactly does the job entail?
“Grizzly bear conflict” is usually defined as scuttles between bears and property or humans, according to Slate. That includes "livestock predation and unexpected encounters -- like having one turn up in your backyard because you left the garbage out, or if you run into one while hiking."
What happens after a conflict involves a series of choices, made by the grizzly bear conflict manager. When a “grizzly conflict” is reported, and the grizzly in question is still on the lam, often that bear will be trapped. Sometimes the bear will simply be released, sometimes it’ll be relocated. If no other option is available, the bear might be euthanized.
“Killing bears is the worst part of my job,” recently-retired conflict specialist, Tim Manley, told the Flathead Beacon. “We try to avoid having to do it, but when bears become very food-conditioned and start causing property damage and breaking into vehicles, trailers and cabins, those bears are removed.”
Manley, who has worked in Northwest Montana managing grizzlies for nearly 30 years, tells the Flathead Beacon that 2021 was one of his busiest years. Human-bear conflict is on the rise, including bear attacks.
Aside from having prior bear handling experience, applicants must also be able to deal with “large numbers of biting insects.”