Park puts down troublesome black bear

Glacier National Park rangers and Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks biologists captured and killed a black bear in the Polebridge area Oct. 5 after numerous incidents in which it broke into vehicles, raided trash storage areas and caused damage trying to access a residence.

According to a Park press release, the bear broke vehicle windows and pulled off car door handles to gain access into at least four cars and trucks. The bear obtained a food reward in most of these incidents.  

The female black bear was six years old and weighed 241 pounds. It had been previously captured in downtown Kalispell in June of 2008, after it was seen in the Woodland Park area. The bear was tagged and released at that time in the North Fork near McGinnis Creek and was not involved in any other management situations since.

The black bear was determined to be a food-conditioned bear and a potential threat to human safety. Killing the bear is consistent with state and federal bear management plans.