Grizzly bear management is often equally about People management

This week on The Wild Idea, we’re diving into one of the wildest and most misunderstood relationships in the natural world: humans and bears.

We’re joined by Tim Manley – a retired (but still legendary) bear management specialist in Montana – who spent decades working at the crossroads of conservation, human nature, and good old-fashioned bear mischief.

From tales of bears breaking into cabins to lessons about how we can (and must) live with wild creatures, Tim shares unforgettable stories, practical wisdom, and a few hard-earned truths about coexistence.

A few gems from our conversation:

➤ “You can’t just manage bears. You have to manage people too.”
➤ “The bears aren’t the problem most of the time — it’s us.”

Whether you love bears, fear them, or just love a good story about nature’s unruly side, this episode will leave you with a new perspective – and maybe a few tips for your next hike. (Spoiler: No, you can’t outrun a grizzly. Don’t even think about it.)

🎧 Listen now on all podcast platforms or at thewildidea.com

Books, resources, and other notes from today’s episode:

• • Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks
  • Endangered Species Act
  • Bob Marshall Wilderness
  • Great Bear Wilderness
  • Glacier-Two Medicine Alliance
  • Interagency Grizzly Bear Committee (IGBC)
  • Defenders of Wildlife
  • People and Carnivores
  • Vital Ground Foundation

  Bear Books

  • Four Fifths a Grizzly by Douglas Chadwick
  • True Grizz by Douglas Chadwick
  • The Grizzly in the Driveway by Robert Chaney
  • Grizzly Years by Doug Peacock

Tim Manley retired after 37 years working for Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks as a Grizzly Bear Biologist in NW Montana. His career included both research and management of grizzly bears. The research involved mostly habitat, movements, and population estimation. The management involved preventing and responding to human-grizzly bear conflicts.

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