There are many places in Montana that are bear country. People have a tendency to think of bear country as the big woods, but in many cases is the open prairies that surround the woods. This summer I carried bear spray in my truck. When I surveyed places where I felt that it was potential bear country, because signs told me or my gut said bears are possible here I strapped on my can of bear spray when I got out to do my surveys.
Only once this year did I feel uneasy about wild animals. It was a place that was not really bear habitat, but mountain lion habitat. They actually scare me more because they are so stealthy. I felt the whole time like I was being watched. I got my business done and got out of there. All the time singing any song I could think of or make up, making my body big and purposeful.
No matter where you go, no matter how short the time there if you are in bear country remember your bear spray.