Grizzly bear, 2 cubs killed crossing U.S. 93

A mother grizzly bear and her two cubs were struck and killed by a vehicle on U.S. 93 south of Ronan on July 27.

Tribal wildlife officials reported in a Facebook post that the marked female bear wearing a radio collar as well as a pair of male and female cubs were hit at around 11 p.m., near the Ninepipe area of the Flathead Indian Reservation.

A third cub was later captured that belong to the family group, and wildlife officials were seeking to find a zoo to take in the cub.

The Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes wildlife program posted a photo of the bears with a statement cautioning drivers about wildlife crossing the highway at night.

The deaths bring to four the number of grizzlies killed this year on a 13-mile stretch of the busy highway.

“This is a rural, wildlife dense area. Wildlife have the potential to walk in front of your vehicle (or into the side of your vehicle) at any time,” the CSKT Wildlife Management Program posted.

“All our wildlife resources are important to us as are the lives of the people traveling through. These accidents are not only about being aware and slowing down. Wildlife are unpredictable and short, dark colored bears crossing US 93 at night can be next to impossible to see until it is too late traveling at highway speed.”

According to tribal wildlife officials, 26 grizzly have been killed in the Northern Continental Divide Ecosystem this year, including 12 deaths involving vehicle collisions.

Grizzlies are protected as a threatened species in Northwest Montana.