Police kill problem bear

A black bear that had become a nuisance in a residential neighborhood of Whitefish was shot and killed July 4 by Whitefish police.

The “problem” bear had been getting into garbage near Edgewood Place and Colorado Avenue. Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks and Whitefish police decided to destroy the bear as a safety precaution.

“This bear had been an issue for some time,” Whitefish Police Chief Bill Dial said. “It was habitually getting into garbage and was getting way too aggressive and approaching people. A 200 pound bear could attack and kill someone. Unfortunately, we had to destroy the bear.”

Dial said there has been an inordinate amount of urban bear sightings and run-ins this spring and summer in Whitefish neighborhoods. He plans to meet with city officials and discuss if there are better ways to secure the large garbage containers found across town.

Michelle Lauber witnessed the large bear getting into garbage and wandering the neighborhood from her place on Colorado Avenue. Lauber is visiting Whitefish from Illinois for about a month.

“The first time I saw the bear it was in the neighbor’s yard,” she explained. “It found something good and was eating away, just taking its time.”

Lauber said this isn’t the first time she’s seen a bear in the area and she recalled the mountain lions in the neighborhood last year.

“We’re getting used to it by now,” she said. “The bear was huge, but it didn’t look like it was any trouble.”

Dial reminds residents to secure their garbage and keep other bear attractants out of reach to help minimize the population of problem bears in urban areas.

“Put your garbage behind a fence, in a garage, and pick up fruit as it ripens and falls to the ground.”