Forbidden fruit - 2 grizzlies captured and moved

Grizzly bears that had been damaging fruit trees near Lake Blaine were captured and moved this week.

An adult female grizzly bear and her 2-year-old cub were captured just west of Lake Blaine during the past two days, according to a news release from Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks. The grizzly bears were radio-collared and released together in the Puzzle Creek drainage southeast of Marias Pass.

The two grizzlies had been getting into fruit trees and traveling through residents’ yards in the Van Sant and Liahona Lane areas. The bears also had been spotted south of Lake Blaine near Kaufman Lake.

The bears did considerable damage to a fruit orchard, breaking branches on 30-year-old trees. The residents were working on picking their fruit, but it was a slow process.

To protect the fruit trees, about 1,000 feet of temporary electric fence was installed to protect the trees and make capturing the bears easier. Until the fence was installed, the bears ignored the traps and continued breaking limbs off the trees.

State Grizzly Bear Management Specialist Tim Manley said the adult female was about 18 years old and weighed 231 pounds. She originally had been captured on Sept. 12, 2006, north of Lake Blaine in an old apple orchard.

Her offspring was a 152-pound male. Both bears were in good shape but a bit thin for this time of the year.

Fish, Wildlife and Parks also has been trapping for grizzly bears in the Martin City, Columbia Falls, Foothill Road and Lost Creek areas.

People are asked to take steps to secure garbage, pet food and livestock feed. Chickens, fruit trees and bee hives can be best protected with electric fencing.