GREAT FALLS — State wildlife officials believe two grizzly bears preyed on sheep in the Sweet Grass Hills in north-central Montana.
Fish, Wildlife and Parks spokesman Bruce Auchly tells the Great Falls Tribune that 13 sheep were killed at a ranch last week, but wildlife officials were unable to trap the bears.
Grizzly bears along the Rocky Mountain Front have been expanding onto the prairies to the east for several years.
The Sweet Grass Hills in northern Liberty and Toole counties are grizzly bear habitat, but it’s not clear where the two bears came from or where they are now. Auchly said Wednesday they could have come down from Canada.
The agency reminds people who live and recreate in the Sweet Grass Hills to take the normal precautions required in bear county, such as securing livestock feed and garbage.