Bears captured near Eureka

Two yearling grizzly bears that had been getting into trouble in the Eureka area were captured last week.

The bears, both males, had been frequenting homes and orchards, and they had recently killed a domestic goat. One of the bears was fitted with a radio collar and relocated to the Spotted Bear area.

Because the other, larger male had forced its way into an unoccupied home, it was shipped off to the Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks wildlife center in Helena. It's future from there has yet to be determined.

Because of previous conflicts, the bears were captured together in the spring and relocated to the Whitefish range. As berries ripened in the Tobacco Valley, they returned to lower elevations and the conflicts resumed.

Jim Roberts, the state's warden for the Eureka area, said other bears will be moving to lower elevations as food sources dry up in the fall. He reminds residents to bring in bird feeders, clean up orchards, and secure other attractants to help reduce bear conflicts.

Growth policy workshop planned

Citizens for a Better Flathead will host a two-hour workshop Thursday on the draft Flathead County Growth Policy.

The workshop will begin with a brief "tour" of the policy and how it will shape future growth.

That will be followed by a professional planner's perspective on planning in fast-growing communities in the West.

The evening will wrap up with a panel discussion and question-and-answer period featuring local stakeholders who have been tracking the draft policy.

The workshop is free and open to the public.

It takes place at the Red Lion Hotel Kalispell at Kalispell Center Mall from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.

Wheat harvest ahead of schedule

HELENA (AP) - The harvest of spring and durum wheat and oats remains well ahead of average while nearly 90 percent of the soil in the state is short or very short of moisture, according to Montana's branch of the National Agricultural Statistics Service.

Spring wheat is 90 percent harvested, compared with the five-year average of 58 percent. Durum is 71 percent harvested, above the 48 percent average, and oats are 91 percent harvested, above the 65 percent average over the past five years.

The second cutting of hay is continuing for alfalfa and all other hay, and farmers are preparing fields for winter wheat planting.

However, the topsoil moisture condition decreased slightly from the previous week, with 89 percent listed as short or very short of moisture. Eleven percent of the topsoil has adequate moisture and none has a surplus, the NASS said.

Subsoil around the state is 87 percent short or very short of moisture, while 13 percent has adequate moisture. None has a surplus.

Pasture and range conditions declined slightly from last week to do warm, dry weather, with 52 percent rated as poor or very poor.

Ranchers continue to move livestock from summer ranges, with 18 percent of the cattle and calves and 12 percent of sheep and lambs moved. That's ahead of the five-year average of 4 percent for both.