Rangers in Glacier National Park euthanized a black bear on Thursday in Apgar Village, after several reports that the bear exhibited food-conditioned behaviors.
On Tuesday, June 7, the bear, weighing approximately 100 pounds, was involved in an incident at Fish Creek Campground in which the bear grabbed food out of an open vehicle trunk at an occupied campsite while campers were eating at a picnic table a few feet away. The bear ate the food and left the area. Park rangers set a trap for the bear but the bear was not caught.
Then on Thursday, June 9, several people reported seeing the bear in Apgar Village, a populated area on the west side of the park. The bear didn’t seem phased by human presence, the park reported, and rangers called to the scene determined the bear was conditioned to human food.
The bear had an orange ear tag from Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks identifying him as having been captured before. According to FWP records, the bear was captured at Stanton Lake Lodge on June 5, 2015 for getting into garbage. The bear was two-and-a-half years old at the time and was relocated to Big Creek, 26 air miles away. There were no further incidents with this bear until this week’s incidents in Glacier National Park.
Food-conditioned bears are those that have sought and obtained non-natural foods, destroyed property or displayed aggressive, non-defensive behavior towards humans and are removed from the wild. Food-conditioned bears are not relocated due to human safety concerns.
The park stated that black bears are not good candidates for animal capture facilities such as zoos and animal parks due to the plentiful nature of the species throughout the United States.
Visitors are reminded to keep campgrounds and developed areas clean and free of food and trash. Regulations require that all edibles, food containers, and cookware be stored in a hard-sided vehicle or food locker when not in use, day or night. Place all trash in bear-proof containers. Do not burn waste in fire rings or leave litter around your camp. Fire rings should be free of trash before vacating a campsite.
Visitors to Glacier National Park are reminded that the park is home to black and grizzly bears. Hikers are highly encouraged to hike in groups, make noise when hiking, and have bear spray accessible and know how to use it.