Grizzly Sighted in the Bears Paw Mountains

HAVRE – A grizzly bear was shot and killed early Wednesday morning, after it threatened a landowner at his home on the northeast side of the Bears Paw Mountains. The Department of Fish, Wildlife & Parks said in a press release that the man heard a disturbance with his dogs and when he opened the door to his porch, he encountered the bear and shot it. This is the first lethal removal by a landowner in this area.

FWP says grizzly bears aren’t common in the Bears Paw Mountains, but sightings have increased during the past few years. Residents experiencing conflicts with bears, are urged to contact your local Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks bear specialist. You can locate their contact information HERE.

Be bear aware

Montana is bear country. Grizzly bear populations continue to become denser and more widespread in Montana, increasing the likelihood that residents and recreationists could encounter them in more places each year.

Avoiding conflicts with bears is easier than dealing with conflicts. Here are some precautions to help residents, recreationists and people who work outdoors avoid negative bear encounters:

• Carry bear spray and be prepared to use it immediately.

• Travel in groups whenever possible and make casual noise, which can help alert bears to your presence.

• Stay away from animal carcasses, which often attract bears.

• Follow food storage orders from the applicable land management agency.

• If you encounter a bear, never approach it. Leave the area when it is safe to do so.

• Keep garbage, bird feeders, pet food and other attractants put away in a secure building. Keep garbage in a secure building until the day it is collected. Certified bear-resistant garbage containers are available in many areas.

• Never feed wildlife. Bears that become food conditioned lose their natural foraging behavior and pose threats to human safety. It is illegal to feed bears in Montana.

For more information and resources on bear safety, visit the FWP website.