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Sep. 20—The grizzly bear euthanized south of Libby final week had a historical past of conflicts within the Ferndale space, authorities say.
The two-year-old male grizzly bear was captured by Montana, Fish, Wildlife and Parks officers on Sept. 15 following experiences of break-ins at hen coops, greenhouses and storage sheds close to Barren Peak Highway off U.S. 2 within the Silver Butte space.
The bear, who alongside along with his siblings had a historical past of conflicts within the Ferndale space, was first relocated to the South Fork by state officers this spring. The bear traveled to the realm north of Marion between April and July 2024 and finally made its method to the Silver Butte space.
“He was by no means relocated to the Libby space, he moved naturally,” stated Dillon Tabish, regional communication and schooling program supervisor for Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks in an e-mail.
Meals conditioned bears pose a security danger to people, as they’ll pursue meals round inhabited areas over pure meals sources. Upon the bear’s arrival within the Libby space, he ate up chickens, hen feed, fruit, greens and grain, in line with the state wildlife company.
Officers had been unable to place an estimate on the loss to space residents.
The bear was collared, which meant that officers obtained GPS knowledge on the animal about each 48 hours. Because it averted folks and culverts, authorities relied on radio telemetry to triangulate its approximate location.
The primary battle name involving the bear got here in on Aug. 20, officers stated.
There are a number of methods to cut back the chance of bear conflicts, together with electrical fencing and securing attractants equivalent to livestock meals, grills and hen feeders, in line with Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks.
Officers urged residents to report all conflicts to the state wildlife company. Wildlife administration specialist numbers might be discovered at https://fwp.mt.gov/conservation/wildlife-management/bear/contact.
Reporter Kate Heston might be reached at kheston@dailyinterlake.com or 758-4459.
