Montana Wildlife officials disposed of a young male grizzly that had developed a taste for beef. Photo: iStock/Petr Kahanek
After confirming four calves were killed by a grizzly bear along the Rocky Mountain Front near Augusta, officials with Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks and the U.S. Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services shot the bear after obtaining the necessary approval from the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service.
The bear was initially reported by landowners. FWP and Wildlife Services technicians responded and confirmed the bear had killed and fed upon the cattle. The 3- to 4-year-old male bear weighed 390 pounds. Traps were not set, to avoid capturing other bears in the area that were not confirmed to have killed any livestock.
The hide and head from the bear were salvaged for Choteau High School students. They are using them to construct a replica for bear spray training lessons.
A different grizzly bear was in and around Augusta over the weekend, and although this second bear has not been reported in any conflicts, residents are urged to continue to exercise caution.
Grizzly bears are protected under the Endangered Species Act. Final authority regarding management actions is up to the USFWS. Bear activity is increasing this spring on the Rocky Mountain Front and across the state. Farmers, ranchers, homeowners, and outdoor recreationists should be prepared to encounter bears anywhere in western Montana as their population and range continues to expand.
