Neighbors upset over bear-cub shooting

Residents in the Big Mountain's Ptarmigan Village neighborhood are angry after one of their own shot and killed a black bear cub in a tree Tuesday night.

"Most of the people in the village who were here last night are quite upset about it, very upset about it," said Doug Ober, president of the upscale neighborhood's homeowners association.

Ed Kelly, warden captain with Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks in Kalispell, confirmed that the shooting was under investigation by a warden Wednesday afternoon.

The perpetrator could face multiple charges, starting with the illegal taking of a black bear.

Steve Hebard, owner of the company that manages Ptarmigan Village facilities, said one of his employees came across a resident in a pickup truck Tuesday just after 10 p.m. who "was threatening to shoot a bear."

"Our staff member was very clear and adamant at that time, telling him don't do it," Hebard said. "Not only is this village philosophically opposed

to that type of thing, we have very clear rules prohibiting it."

Not long after, the employee heard gunshots and returned to the scene. Ober said his general understanding is that the employee found a dead black bear cub that apparently had been shot out of a tree by the man in the pickup truck.

"What occurred last night is absolutely devastating to the people who own places and live here and have worked to have a workable relationship" with wildlife officials, Hebard said.

Ptarmigan Village was one of the first neighborhoods in the Flathead Valley to install bear-proof garbage containers at the urging of state bear managers.

"Ptarmigan Village has probably been one of the most proactive neighborhoods in the area" in terms of education and other efforts to discourage conflicts with bears, Hebard said.

"One of our staff members is returning from a bear seminar down in Yellowstone National Park right now," he said. "This [the shooting] is absolutely contrary to what Ptarmigan Village is all about."

Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks does not release the names of suspects in any wildlife-related crimes until a person has been charged. No citations had been issued by Wednesday afternoon.

Reporter Jim Mann may be reached at 758-4407 or by e-mail at jmann@dailyinterlake.com