Bears get active as seasons change

Bears are on the move in Northwest Montana and they are already keeping Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks officials busy.

A six-year-old, 340-pound male grizzly bear was captured April 6 south of Eureka.

The bear was implicated in killing a calf on April 2, prompting U.S. Wildlife Services to assist in its capture.

The bear previously had been captured in British Columbia as part of research trapping in fall 2011. The bear was fitted with ear tags and released.

This time, it was fitted with a radio collar and released April 8 in Glacier National Park, with assistance from park personnel, in an area seasonally closed due to snow and road conditions.

There are no other known management situations involving the bear.

Erik Wenum, a bear and mountain lion management specialist for Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks, has responded to several other bear conflict situations over the last few days.

Four black bears were captured in the Columbia Falls and Whitefish areas.

According to Wenum, this level of activity indicates that while many bears may still be denned or close to their dens, other bears have dropped to lower elevations in search of food.

Residents are urged to secure any attractants that may have been out during the winter, especially trash, bird feeders, and feed for pets and livestock.