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Glacier Proposes Rewrite of Grizzly Rules

By Beacon Staff

WEST GLACIER – Glacier National Park administrators want to make it easier to take action against problem grizzly bears following last year’s shooting of a popular but trouble-making bear.

Under a proposal open for public comment through May 7, the park would lower the bar to list a bear as “conditioned” — a designation that can trigger hazing or killing the bear.

Last August, park rangers shot a female grizzly — and inadvertently killed one of her cubs — after the old sow grew increasingly bold around humans over more than a decade.

The new rules would list a bear as conditioned if the animal approaches people or repeatedly touches their tents, backpacks or food containers. Previously bears had to steal food, destroy property or display aggressive behavior toward people.