A second yearling grizzly bear was captured yesterday in the Middle Road area east of Kalispell. This yearling joins its sibling and the adult female that were previously captured. The three grizzlies were released together today in the Sullivan Creek area on the west side of Hungry Horse Reservoir.
The female grizzly with her two yearlings had been frequenting the area of Middle Road off highway 206 near the Silver Bullet Bar. The bears had been eating apples that were just beginning to ripen. The adult female and one yearling were captured a few days ago.
Grizzly Bear Management Specialist Tim Manley reports that the adult female is 18 years old and was first captured on Swan Hill outside of Bigfork in 1995 with a sibling when they were two years old. She was released in Knieff Creek and not heard from again until she was captured a few days ago.
The adult female grizzly weighed 260 pounds. Her yearlings include a 170- pound male and a 150- pound female. Manley says that all bears are healthy, but on the thin side. The adult female has no other history except for eating apples when she was two and eating apples recently when she was captured.