Garbage and Livestock Continue to Get Bears in Trouble

SEELEY LAKE – The Grizzly Bear north of Seeley Lake continues to find trash and trouble in the past week reported Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks Bear Biologist Jamie Jonkel. There was also another unrelated incident where a pig was killed by a grizzly bear in the lower Clearwater drainage. Residents are asked to be diligent and secure all attractants, for their safety and to avoid training the bears.

The collared grizzly bear continues to hang around north of town around Boy Scout Road. Jonkel said he is three to four years old. It was caught as a non-target bear in a trap on the Flathead Indian Reservation near Arlee and was collared.

The boar was first seen in the area in mid-May. He didn't have a history of problems but did find garbage.

It returned to the same area May 22 and 23 and got into a lot of garbage. Now he has moved down into the Placid Lake area.

"He didn't have a history of garbage but sadly he is finding garbage in the Seeley area that is out all week and not contained," said Jonkel. "He hit a lot of places, knocked a lot of cans over and was in a lot of backyards looking for garbage cans. If you leave garbage out you are going to train them up."

Saturday, May 19 a grizzly bear killed a pig in the lower Clearwater drainage almost by the confluence. Jonkel said there was a lot of attractants at the residence. He thought the bear was drawn into the area because the pigpen was situated against the willows near the stream.

FWP set up an electric fence on the pigpen and set a trap for the bear. When the bear returned, it was zapped by the electric fence. It did not return again and therefore was not caught. FWP is working with the homeowners to install a permanent electric fence for their pigs and chickens.

"It seems like more people are getting pigs, chickens and goats," said Jonkel. "You have to [use an electric] fence if you are going to have poultry, goats, pigs or rabbits. You have to protect them.

Jonkel recommends the electric fence incentive program run through the Defenders of Wildlife. They offer to reimburse 50 percent of the cost of an electric fence (up to $500) for securing bear attractants. For more information on the program visit https://defenders.org/got-grizzlies

"We are just begging people to not have any garbage out, no bird feeders swinging, no dog food outside, livestock grain needs to be locked up inside or in a good metal container," said Jonkel who added they have seen a lot of grain stored in Tupperware containers outdoors.

Problem bears must be caught and relocated or worse case scenario killed.

For more information visit missoulabears.org and find Missoula Bears on Facebook. Updates about bears and mountain lions are posted and provide the most current information. There is also information about community resources available to help reduce human-bear conflicts.

To report a residence or business with bear attractants call 1-800-TIP-MONT (1-800-847-6668). Tips are anonymous and can be eligible for a reward.