Bear Activity Continues in Seeley Lake

SEELEY LAKE – In the last couple of weeks there have been several bear sightings, one black bear killed in Dogtown and another broke into a car at the Tamaracks Resort. Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks Game Warden Bill Koppen reminds people to be diligent and said, "a fed bear is a dead bear."

The weekend of Sept. 17 a six foot, two inch black bear was killed south of Riverview Drive in Dogtown.

Koppen heard that the bear was hazed off the Seeley Lake Game Preserve, a no hunting area to the north of Riverview Drive. When the hunter was asked, he said they were trying to move the bear to get a good shot so they didn't hit any buildings. He also pointed out that surrounding landowners were driving the bear to get it off their property.

While the tenant gave permission to a friend to shoot the bear, the property owner did not.

"I told the owner your tenant gave permission for this guy to shoot the bear on private land. Right or wrong when someone gives permission and they are living there, it's pretty much unenforceable for me," said Koppen. "The owner needs to inform their tenant that there is no hunting and post their land."

The bear was double tagged with the carcass and the hide and processed. No citations were issued.

Another bear had been hanging around the Tamaracks Resort for the past month. One of the guests left his window cracked and the bear broke in the window. It ate the ginger snaps on the front seat and tore the car apart.

Koppen has set a bear trap at the Tamaracks Resort to help catch the bear and relocate it. He asks that people call when they first start seeing the bear.

"This town is not smart when it comes to these bears," said Koppen. "We are going to get someone killed."

Koppen encourages people to call 1-800-TIP-MONT (847-6668) if they see people feeding the wildlife, leaving garbage out or see a bear getting into trouble. Callers can remain anonymous.