Apple-eating griz family relocated

The last of three grizzly bears that had been frequenting the Middle Road area off Highway 206 near the Silver Bullet Bar was captured Aug. 30.

The two yearlings and their mother were released together Aug. 31 in the Sullivan Creek area on the west side of Hungry Horse Reservoir.

The bears had been eating apples that were just beginning to ripen.

Grizzly bear management specialist Tim Manley said the 18-year-old adult female was first captured on Swan Hill outside of Bigfork in 1995 with a sibling when they were both two years old. She was released in Knieff Creek and not heard from again until she was captured a few days ago.

The adult female grizzly weighed 260 pounds. Her yearlings include a 170-pound male and a 150-pound female. Manley said all three bears were healthy but on the thin side. The adult female has no other history except for eating apples when she was two and eating apples recently when she was captured.