Grizzlies wandering Whitefish neighborhoods relocated

A pair of grizzlies seen wandering through residential areas in Whitefish were relocated to the Whitefish Mountain Range near the Canadian border on Thursday, according to Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks.

In a Friday press release, the state agency stated that neither of the bears had previously required management actions. Both were fitted with GPS satellite collars and released near Frozen Lake, which straddles the border between Montana and British Columbia north of Tuchuck Mountain.

One of the bears, a 4-year-old male weighing 245 pounds, was captured Wednesday morning south of Blanchard Lake after it ate dog food and garbage. Later in the day, a 2-year-old male grizzly, weighing 158 pounds, was trapped after it was spotted in a cherry tree on Dakota Avenue and near Wildwood Condos and The Lodge at Whitefish Lake.

In the press release, grizzly management specialist Tim Manley stated that bears have been hanging around the Flathead Valley to feed on serviceberries and hawthorn berries.

“Fruit trees also have apples, plums and pears that are ripening up right now,” the release added. “Residents should pick their fruit as soon as possible and also make sure other attractants such as garbage, pet food and bird feeders are not available.”