EBS STAFF
On April 25, a man searching for shed antlers shot and killed an adult female grizzly bear on private land northwest of Wolf Creek, Montana.
The bear was an adult female “in good condition” weighing around 300 pounds and estimated to be 12 years old. The sow’s nearby cub—its only known cub of the year—was captured by bear management specialists with Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks and taken to FWP’s wildlife rehabilitation center in Helena. FWP is currently looking for placement for the cub at an accredited zoo, according to a May 3 FWP press release.
The man was walking beside his two dogs with the wind on his back, along a ridge covered with brush and low trees. He saw fresh grizzly tracks in a patch of snow, and continuing along his path minutes later, he saw the bear standing near the top of the ridge about 20 yards away.
“The bear dropped to all four legs and charged the man, who drew his handgun and fired five shots from distances about 30 feet to 10 feet, grazing the bear with a one shot and hitting and killing it with another shot. The man was not injured in the encounter. He was not carrying bear spray,” the release stated. The incident remains under investigation by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
In a two-part press release, FWP added that bear aware habits can prevent conflict with the seasonal uptick in activity among black and grizzly bears. Much of Montana has both species, with grizzlies appearing further east each year. FWP recently confirmed a bear sighting in the Bear Paw Mountains east of Big Sandy.
“Though not common, grizzly bear sightings around central Montana have increased over the years,” FWP Region 6 Supervisor Drew Henry stated in the release. “This emphasizes the need to practice bear aware behavior.”
FWP has hosted public presentations in north-central Montana—Havre and Big Sandy in recent years—on grizzly bear awareness.
“All hunter, bowhunter and trapper education students in the state are taught about bear safety and the effective use of bear spray,” the release stated.
Grizzly bears remain a federally protected species under the Endangered Species Act; populations have biologically recovered in two of their recovery areas, including the Northern Continental Divide Ecosystem. Various agencies collaborate to manage grizzly bears through the Interagency Grizzly Bear Committee.
Henry added that for cattle producers on the fringe of grizzly range, FWP has resources to help protect their stock and secure their property.
“Please reach out to us. We’ve got a number of tools that can be useful in helping landowners avoid bear conflicts,” Henry stated.
To avoid negative encounters, FWP recommends the following: carry bear spray and be prepared to use it immediately; travel through bear habitat in groups making casual noise; avoid animal carcasses which attract bears; follow food storage orders and secure garbage, bird feeders and pet food in a secure building; and never feed or approach bears, but leave the area when safe.
More information on avoiding negative conflict with bears can be found at FWP’s website.
