Two grizzly bear deaths reported in last week

Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks reported the deaths of two grizzly bears on Tuesday.

One grizzly bear was shot and killed near Eureka while another was euthanized near Libby.

The first incident took place on the morning of Nov. 7 on the Sinclair Creek Trail in the Kootenai National Forest east of Eureka. An unidentified man reported he was hunting alone when he was charged by a grizzly bear.

He shot and killed the bear – an adult female accompanied by a cub – and subsequently notified a game warden.

The incident is currently under investigation.

On Nov. 10, an adult male grizzly was euthanized after breaking into a garage and feeding on a harvested elk. Fish, Wildlife and Parks captured the bear along Farm to Market Road near Libby Creek, 3.5 miles south of Libby.

The bear was previously captured on Oct. 11 south of Libby after attempting to break into a barn. The next day it was fitted with a tracking collar and moved to a remote location in the Cabinet Mountains. The 25-year-old bear – which was captured for research in 2005 – had attacked a U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service field assistant in May 2018 in the Poorman Creek Drainage after the assistant surprised the bear. The victim fended off the bear with bear spray but sustained injuries after the attack.

Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks reminds hunters and outdoor enthusiasts to carry bear spray, as bears are increasingly active in the fall as they prepare for winter. Northwest Montana residents can report bear activity by calling Fish, Wildlife and Parks’ regional office at 752-5501.