Montana grizzly bear euthanized

The Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks (MFWP) announced June 22 that a male adult grizzly bear was trapped and euthanized after killing cattle on private property east of Red Lodge, MT. Federal Wildlife Services officials, working under an agreement with MFWP, and with MFWP wildlife biologists investigating the cattle depredations, set a live trap and caught one bear. MFWP Wildlife Biologist Shawn Stewart estimated that the bear was 5 to 7 years old. Because biologists believe the bear was involved in the depredation of multiple cattle and was not a candidate for transplant, it was euthanized. Four yearling calves were killed by bears on private land within two miles of each earlier in the week in rolling sagebrush hills, Stewart said. Tracks found at each of the depredation sites were similar and the same size as the bear that was trapped and euthanized. A number of grizzly bears have been seen in the area east of Red Lodge during the past few years. Stewart said biologists will continue to monitor the area for additional bear activity and depredation. — WLJ