Hungry grizzly moved from Whitefish area

A grizzly bear was captured Saturday southeast of Whitefish after feeding on garbage and fallen fruit in the area for about a week.

The 3-year-old, 271-pound male was trapped south of Montana 40 between U.S. 2 and the Whitefish River on a property that now has a bear-resistant trash container.

Tim Manley, a state grizzly bear management specialist, said the bear had not been previously captured and probably came from the Whitefish Range. The bear was fitted with a GPS collar and relocated to the Whale Creek area in the North Fork Flathead drainage.

Manley reminds people living in potential bear habitat to secure garbage, pet foods, fallen fruit and other potential attractants.