GREAT FALLS — Montana wildlife managers euthanized an adult male grizzly bear for killing cattle north of Wolf Creek, about 15 miles (24 kilometers) west of Holter Dam.
Fish, Wildlife and Parks bear management specialist Mike Madel says the bear was 5 years old and weighed 474 pounds (215 kilograms).
Madel says bears risk injury in trying to kill a cow, rather than a calf, but this bear killed two cows each weighing about 1,200 pounds (544 kilograms).
Madel says it’s possible the bear was traveling with another bruin but he’s convinced the correct animal was captured Monday based on paw print measurements.
Grizzly bears are protected as threatened species under the Endangered Species Act.