Wildlife enforcement officers are investigating three separate grizzly bear deaths in Northwest Montana, according to an announcement from Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks.
The remains of a female grizzly bear were found last week near Brosten Lane east of Kalispell. FWP Warden Captain Lee Anderson said he is looking for any information the public may have about this bear.
In a second case, an individual shot and killed a male grizzly that was in his chicken coop near his Ferndale residence Sunday evening.
In the third incident, an individual shot and killed a female grizzly that was next to a chicken coop on his property last week just north of Columbia Falls.
FWP and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service officials are actively investigating all three incidents.
In related news, a bird hunter shot at a female grizzly reportedly after a surprise encounter near Bigfork. The hunter was unharmed and reported the incident immediately to FWP. The sow grizzly had a cub, and both were later found alive by officials. The female grizzly did not appear to have life-threatening injuries.