As first reported this morning on Northern Ag Network, two grizzly bears killed livestock (click here for link) in Judith Basin County this weekend.
Northern Ag Network spoke with Greg Lemon the head of public information for Montana Fish Wildlife and Parks today. FWP collaborated rancher reports that a total of four calves were killed on two ranches near Stanford, MT on Sunday. The livestock were reported to be killed either later Friday night or early Saturday morning. Both USDA Wildlife Services and Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks worked to set up trapping efforts to capture the bears. The grizzlies were two young male siblings.
One bear was captured in a snare. The other bear was field darted. With grizzly bears originating from the Rocky Mountain Front being on the endangered species list, the federal entity which overseas the species is USDA Wildlife Services. Due to the fact that the bears were both young males traveling together this type of behavior (killing livestock) would most likely be repeated. It was recommended to Wildlife Services that the bears be euthanized. The two bears were euthanized early this morning (Monday 6/27/17).
There were several reports from concerned locals over the last week. Some saw the bears 14 miles west of where the livestock was killed just a few days prior to the event. Montana FWP says their local biologist were in the field working with landowners and ranchers in recent days to locate the bears. It was determined this past week it was a priority to capture the two bears.
A few weeks ago, there were reports around the Great Falls area of two young male bears venturing eastward. FWP’s Greg Lemon said that “we are relatively certain these are the same bears. They have been photographed by landowners and the public several times.” He also added “we have had several reports of them along the way.”
Montana FWP Region 4 supervisor Gary Bertellotti also noted that these grizzlies traveled from the Rocky Mountain Front. Down the Teton River. And, are the first reported grizzlies in over a century to cross the Missouri River and ultimately travel to where the livestock were killed.
Grizzly Bears are becoming more common and more of a problem as they venture away from the Rocky Mountain Front. It’s reported that there are over 1000 grizzly in the Rocky Mountains of Western Montana and Idaho. A population that has become well recovered under the endanger species list.
Bertellotti did note that FWP and USDA Wildlife Services were able to track the bears based on reports from the public.
As Northern Ag Network reported in June 2016, ranchers can't shoot grizzly bears when they are harassing livestock. Producers can do little besides hope the bears move on before killing livestock. When the bears are relocated by FWP, they often return. Even hazing has become a grey area with the distance a rancher is allowed to chase or scare a bear away from homesteads or livestock up for debate.
Northern Ag Network 2017
