Adult Male Grizzly Euthanized for Killing Calf on Front
By angelamontana

Posted: March 31, 2015

State and federal wildlife officials euthanized an adult male grizzly bear Saturday after it killed a calf on a private ranch west of Augusta.

The bear, 6 years old and weighing 430 pounds, was caught in a snare Saturday after Montana, Fish, Wildlife and Parks and federal Department of Agriculture, Wildlife Service, officials confirmed a grizzly had killed the calf the previous day.

Officials determined they had the correct bear by matching the bear’s teeth with bite marks on the calf.

The bear had no previous history of conflicts and had not been captured before.

However, guidelines set by the Interagency Grizzly Bear Committee allow for adult male grizzlies to be removed from the population after one conflict.

“Based on our knowledge of grizzly bear behavior on the Rocky Mountain Front,” says Mike Madel, FWP bear management specialist, “adult males often repeat their behavior. Adult male bears that kill livestock tend to kill livestock again.”

The bear’s skull and hide will be used for educational purposes.

(Report by Montana FWP)

 

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