Wildlife managers captured a pair of young grizzly bears northwest of Whitefish and relocated the animals to separate areas in Northwest Montana.
Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks officials said two young grizzly bears were captured about 10 miles northwest of Whitefish along the Stillwater River on June 22-June 23. The siblings, both 2.5 years old, were captured after landowners reported they were trying to get into a dog kennel to get dog food, according to FWP.
A few days earlier, neighbors to the south reported bears had killed chickens on their property but felt it was black bears and not grizzly bears. Their scat was also full of sunflower seeds indicating they had been getting access to bird feeders in the area, FWP officials said. Traps were set at both places and only the two grizzly bears were captured.
This was a first-time capture for both bears. The first bear captured was a 172-pound female and her 200-pound male sibling was captured the following night. The bears were likely left in the area by the adult female that went off to breed, FWP said. Grizzly bears typically kick off their 2-year-old cubs during June, which is the peak of breeding season.
The decision was made to translocate the bears to different locations, FWP said. The female was relocated to the upper Good Creek drainage in the Salish Range. The male was released in Deep Creek along the east side of Hungry Horse Reservoir. Both bears were fitted with GPS radio collars so their movements could be monitored.
Residents are reminded to secure attractants such as garbage, pet food, livestock feed, and bird seed. Pick your fruit when it is ripe and protect your fruit trees, livestock, and poultry with electric fencing. In Montana, it is illegal to feed bears and ungulates. This includes putting out grain and deer blocks.