Bear put down after break-ins

State wildlife officials killed a food-conditioned adult female grizzly bear after it broke into three camp trailers in the North Fork area, according to a press release from Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks.

The 315-pound grizzly sow broke into the trailers on the evening of July 28 and ate dog food and other food in the cupboards, the press release stated.

Wildlife management officials caught the bear the following day. They were able to identify it by a fresh wound on its foot that they believe it suffered from glass from a trailer.

The agency also believes the bear had broken into garages and killed chickens in the same area during the last two years, based on photos taken at the time.

The grizzly was put down on Monday after officials determined it had become habituated to non-natural foods. The bear was not lactating and there was no indication it had any cubs.

“It is always regrettable to be put in the position of removing a grizzly bear from the population,” regional state wildlife program manager Neil Anderson stated in the release. “In this case the bear was heavily food-conditioned and the removal was in the interest of public safety.”