I wonder if a partial solution for the long term would be to plant
well-chosen hardy apple trees, grafted trees and maybe seedlings
from likely crosses, in more remote areas for the bears. Conceivably
this would be a way to harness pro-bear and public safety interests,
and the bears, in the service of breeding hardy apples.
I note that apparently there are apple cultivars hardy to about
Agriculture Canada plant hardiness zone 1b.
Doug Woodard
St. Catharines, Ontario, Canada
[NAFEX] Apple trees draw bears into urban area of Missoula, Montana,
Douglas Woodard, 10/12/2010