EBS STAFF
A food-conditioned grizzly bear was shot and killed by Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks after becoming food-conditioned and breaking into Gardiner area homes. According to a July 19 FWP release, FWP officials and game wardens began a search for the reported grizzly, which had been conditioned to collecting unsecured food attractants.
On Thursday morning, a bear reportedly broke into a home in Maiden Basin, north of Gardiner. The search team found the bear near the Yellowstone River, and shot and killed it. FWP officials and game wardens recovered the carcass and confirmed the bear killed was the same one involved in conflicts.
In early June, FWP had begun to receive reports of the food-conditioned bear—the instances increased over the next three weeks. The grizzly obtained unsecured attractants in the Gardiner area from homes, businesses and vehicles. Garbage, human food, barbecue grills and pet food were all discovered by the bear in coolers, vehicles, camp trailers, sheds and garbage cans. These items were not bear-resistant.
No human injuries were reported during these instances.
“With human safety as a top priority, and in consultation with the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, FWP bear specialists began nightly efforts to trap and remove the bear,” the release stated. “However, the wide availability of unsecured attractants, combined with the bear being active almost exclusively at night, limited opportunities to remove the animal without creating additional human safety risks.”
Bear specialists confirmed the adult male grizzly was responsible for the activity after identifying him as a bear previously captured and tagged for research purposes.
“FWP would like to thank staff from the U.S. Forest Service, Yellowstone National Park, the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, and the U.S. Geological Survey’s Interagency Grizzly Bear Study Team for their assistance with the capture effort,” the release stated. “FWP would also like to thank Gardiner residents who offered assistance where possible.”
