Grizzlies too close to homes in Blackfoot

POTOMAC - Two female grizzly bears were trapped Sunday, May 29 on private property up Twin Creeks Road. One was relocated to a remote area the next day and the other was euthanized in Missoula due to an old injury that led to a serious infection.

According to the Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks bear management team, on Wednesday, May 25 the two-year-old bears were in the Johnson Creek drainage moving east. The grizzlies remained close to homes along Highway 200. One bear was missing a foot. Preemptive trapping ensued on private property near Wisherd's bridge Friday, May 27 but was unsuccessful.

Saturday, May 28 the bears appeared midday near a pasture up Twin Creeks. They spooked horses and mules without injury. The private resident home at the time hazed the bears by making loud noises and the bears left. They notified FWP.

At 6 a.m. Sunday, May 29 the bears returned to the property and were seen grazing on dandelions in the lawn. The homeowners said the bear missing a foot and part of its leg looked unthrifty and had a wobbling sort of gait. It was more watchful and tried to stick close to the other one.

Again, the bears were hazed away only to return an hour later. FWP was updated and the bears were hazed again.

With each encounter the bears were less and less afraid. FWP said it was because they were young.

The property included horses, mules, chickens, pigs and other livestock that were contained with substantial fencing. The bears never got into any human or livestock attractants and only ate dandelions and wild plants on this property.

Later Sunday afternoon, FWP moved the two culvert traps that were set at Wisherd's Bridge.

FWP said they notified neighbors that traps were in the area. According to FWP Bear Management Specialist Jamie Jonkel this trapping was a preemptive measure to prevent conflict in the neighborhood. Since they had not accessed attractants, the bears were not considered 'conflict bears.'

The traps were baited with roadkill along with some 'chum' on the ground in front of the doors.

At dusk, the homeowners spotted the bears next to the house inside the fence. They walked back and forth across a wooden footbridge to graze once again on wild plants and dandelions. The bears were hazed away from the house and FWP was notified again.

Around 10:25 p.m., the homeowners went to check their livestock and heard one of the trap doors slam shut. Uncertain if both bears were caught or just one, they shone their lights on the traps and saw a set of eyeshine in each trap.

The homeowners checked the traps and confirmed it was both grizzlies. FWP wildlife technician Eli Hampson had mentioned that in addition to non-target catches, even house cats can trigger the door of a culvert trap.

Monday morning Jonkel was happy to hear they caught both grizzlies. The traps were taken to Missoula where the bears were darted, checked out and one was collared. FWP does not have DNA results to confirm if they were siblings or related, but the teeth indicated both bears were the same age and traveling together, leading FWP to believe they were siblings.

FWP biologists worked with a local veterinarian to diagnose the three-legged bear's injury and determine if treatment was an option. The bear had a serious infection, stemming from an old injury that had caused the bear to lose its foot. It weighed 72 pounds. Following the veterinarian inspection and consult, it was euthanized in Missoula.

Although FWP and wildlife specialists were unable to determine the cause of the leg injury, it was reported on MT Fox News June 5 that Footloose Montana is offering a reward for a shot grizzly bear. While a grizzly bear paw was found April 11 by a cyclist near Snowbowl, as of Monday, June 6 FWP had not connected the paw to the three-legged female or determined what could have caused either injury.

The healthy bear weighed 140 pounds. FWP said this is light for that age. She was collared and relocated to the Elk/Boles Meadows area that same day.

By June 3 the collared female grizzly had made her way down to Nine Mile Prairie and had been seen around Woodchuck and moving near homes affiliated with Paws Up on the north side of Highway 200.

On Monday the FWP bear management team said they have had to do aversive conditioning with her as she has been grazing on grass and dandelions in people's yards in the Nine Mile Prairie area.

Jonkel said FWP is waiting for DNA results to confirm whether or not these two bears are related to the sow grizzly that frequented the North Hills outside of Missoula. The Rattlesnake Wilderness is within the NCDE Grizzly Bear Recovery Area and is home to other grizzlies but the family group recorded last year was the first female to set up a home range in the North Hills of Missoula.

While the homeowners are grateful no people or livestock were injured, they felt if bear management practices including hunting seasons, hazing protocol and relocation procedures could be updated, perhaps that would reduce tension.

Jonkel responded even if hunting grizzly bears was legal in Montana, bear conflict issues would still exist.

"[Grizzly and black bears] need spring habitat and sadly spring habitat is in the lower elevations where people live," Jonkel said. "Our future hunting seasons will be limited---similar to moose and goat hunts."

To report grizzly bear, black bear and mountain lion conflicts in the Blackfoot north to Seeley Lake call Jonkel 406-542-5508 or Eli Hampson 406-210-3213. If it is an emergency after hours call 9-1-1 and someone will respond.

For more information on living, working and recreating in Montana's bear country, visit the FWP Bear Aware website at https://fwp.mt.gov/conservation/wildlife-management/bear/be-bear-aware.