Creston seems to be the place for grizzlies this spring

Creston apparently is a hot spot for grizzly bear activity this spring, with Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks officials aware of at least four bears in the area.

On April 13, a turkey hunter was charged by a sow grizzly with two yearling cubs that were feeding on a deer carcass. The hunter fired his shotgun at the bear from about 10 yards away and the bears fled the scene. 

It was unclear if the bear was hit by the shotgun blast, because no blood was detected in a subsequent investigation. Later that day, a state grizzly bear management specialist set up a motion-triggered camera near the deer carcass.

At about 8 p.m., a large male grizzly bear was photographed feeding on the carcass. 

“It’s a different bear, a very large male grizzly bear,” said John Fraley, public information officer for Fish, Wildlife and Parks.

On April 14, another turkey hunter spotted the tracks of three bears about a mile from where the first encounter occurred. The hunter said he was “woofed at” by a bear near the location of the tracks, but he never saw the family group of bears.

“I think it shows a couple things: first, the recovery of grizzly bears is pretty obvious and they are using these areas on the Swan front pretty commonly in the spring,” Fraley said.