Wildlife officials euthanized a male grizzly bear that was rummaging through food sources near residences outside of Whitefish, the Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks announced Thursday.
FWP officials captured the 238-pound subadult male grizzly Wednesday along the Stillwater River, southwest of Whitefish near the KM Ranch Road. The bear had been moved in July from the Lincoln area into the Coal Creek Drainage of the Whitefish Range north of Columbia Falls. Over the course of a month, it crossed the Whitefish Divide and traveled along the Stillwater River between Lupfer Meadows and Lost Creek. FWP said it received numerous reports of the bear getting into livestock feed, pet food, garbage, bird feeders and apples.
Due to the history and food-conditioned behavior of the bear, the decision was made to euthanize the bear at a local veterinary clinic.
To reduce grizzly conflicts, FWP Grizzly Bear Management Specialist Tim Manley is reminding residents to secure all food attractants, including livestock and pet feed, bird feeders, and especially fruit falling from trees.