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Fall Foraging Tips

As the mornings get chilly, and stands of aspens begin to glean yellow leaves, I am reminded that fall is just around the corner for the Madison Valley. This a wonderful time of year to be hiking and foraging for native fruits across our landscape, but you may not be the only one in the berry patch, so grab a basket, and some bear spray and explore what our area has to offer!

Along trails and streambanks in late summer months, look for thorny stalks that might adorn wild raspberries. Usually, raspberries are one of the first wild berries to ripen, however they may be too sparse, especially by September, to pick and store. Instead, these may be better eaten as a trail-side bonus snack.

Similar in appearance to wild raspberries, but generally softer and flatter, is the aptly named thimbleberry. The thimbleberry is bright red with little fruitlets when ripe. It is most distinguishable from the raspberry because of its large five-lobed leaves that can grow larger than a person’s spread hand. Thimbleberries can often be found along alpine trails in shady, moist, and cool spots. A fan favorite of grizzly bears, these berries are sour, and can be eaten raw, or cooked and made into jam and jelly.

Another tart, shrub-dwelling berry loved by bears, birds, and humans alike is the chokecherry. This berry is best enjoyed after a frost, turning a deep red-purple. Chokecherries are commonly canned to be used in pies, jams, and syrups, but can be caustic if not fully ripe because they contain a low dose of hydrogen cyanide. Chokecherries can be found all over the state, often dwelling in moist areas that receive plenty of sunlight, dry hillsides, and also in people’s yard.

Up in the Madison Range and mid-range elevations, lies the mountain huckleberry, arguably Montana’s most iconic berry. This berry was traditionally utilized by Native American tribes in the region for both food and medicine. Today, huckleberries continue to be a staple for our state. You can look for the pea-sized, purple berry amidst coniferous forests and open areas, especially ones that have been recently disturbed by events such as fire. A close member of the huckleberry family, the whortleberry or grouseberry can also be found in the region. These bright-red berries, named because of their fondness by mountain grouse, are tiny and grow on low-to-the-ground shrubs.

Another berry with a rich history in our region is the serviceberry or saskatoon. Indigenous populations considered the serviceberry an essential food source because of their ability to be eaten fresh, frozen, dried, or incorporated into pemmican, a traditional, nutrient-dense food made from dried berries, meat, and fat. Serviceberries closely resemble blueberries in taste and appearance and can be found in a variety of habitat, including forest, grassland, meadow, woodland, or mountain slopes.

These are just a few of the native, edible species you may come across when walking along the trails. It is important to exercise caution when deciding whether or not to eat the berry you see dangling among the shrubs. Some may be delicious, but others are best left for the wildlife.

If reading about the berries above stirred up your appetite, you may not be the only one this time of year. Bears are also likely looking for a tasty treat. In fall months, bears become more active to prepare for hibernation by eating and drinking almost nonstop. This phase is referred to as hyperphagia.

To best avoid bear encounters while berry picking or recreating in general, there are several things you can do.

Avoid encounters by:

  • Staying alert, especially if hearing or visibility is limited (ex. in brushy areas or around moving water)
  • Travel in groups
  • Making noise (ex. sing your favorite songs or play the “name game”)
  • Avoid exploring at night, dusk, or dawn when bears are more likely to be active
  • Avoid carcass sites and places you see lots of scavengers

For more bear safety tips, visit https://fwp.mt.gov/conservation/wildlife-management/bear/all-about-bears.

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