Black Bear Caught Cruising Main Street in Bozeman

How does the joke go? A bear walks into a bar???

Customers at Bozeman Spirits might have had too much huckleberry vodka. Their eyes must have been playing tricks on them after what they saw. On Tuesday, a bear went shopping on Main Street in Bozeman.

Tim Mastas, who works at the distillery in Bozeman, told KBZK he stepped out of its back door to find himself nose-to-snout with a cinnamon-colored black bear that stood just three feet away. Having what he called "A STANDOFF."

And of course, this is Montana, not NYC, so Tim did what any of us would do after the bear showed no signs of wanting to eat him: he took out his cellphone.

Huckleberry the Bear’s Downtown Stroll

The bear roamed down the alley and trotted across Main Street in front of traffic as if it owned the place. It was captured from the other angle in security camera footage from the distillery. The little vodka detour meant locals quickly dubbed the furry tourist “Huckleberry”.

This time of year, bears are out to gain as much weight as they can before winter comes, so strolling through a back alley by trash cans isn’t exactly surprising. It's surprising that it happened right on Main.

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Meanwhile in Missoula…

By late October, Missoula has usually had its fill of bear encounters. Trash cans tipped over in the Rattlesnake, someone’s Ring camera catching a furry midnight bandit. But this fall has been pretty quiet.

A Friendly Fall Reminder

Huckleberry might have sniffed the good stuff, but it’s a reminder that bears are on the move this time of year. If you’re out early, walking the dog late, or going about your Montana life, always be BEAR AWARE.

And sure, it’s fun to laugh when a bear goes shopping downtown, but it seems like a good reminder that they’re out there. Walk the dog late, if you must; keep your head on a swivel. Be noisy, carry bear spray, and don’t leave your garbage out like a buffet.