Wrong grizzlies captured near Mud Lake

Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks reported April 21 that bear managers trying to capture a grizzly suspected of killing two calves instead captured two other male bears.

FWP and federal Wildlife Services personnel responded to a report of a newborn calf that had been killed near Mud Lake, northeast of Bigfork on April 2.

A landowner reported he had lost another newborn calf several days earlier, but remains of that calf could not be found. Based on the investigation, it was a determined that a large grizzly bear probably killed and consumed the newborn calf. There were large grizzly bear tracks at the site.

FWP grizzly bear management specialist Tim Manley said a joint trapping effort by FWP and Wildlife Services resulted in the incidental capture of two male grizzly bears. Based on remote camera photos and track measurements, neither of the captured bears was responsible for the calf depredation.

The first male captured was 5 years old and weighed 364 pounds. He was radio-collared and released in the Emery Creek drainage near Hungry Horse Reservoir. The second bear was about 8 years old and weighed 456 pounds. He was also radio-collared and released in the South Fork of Lost Creek in the Swan drainage.

Even though neither bear was involved with the depredation, the decision was made to move them a short distance out of the area to facilitate capturing the target bear. After additional trap nights and checking remote cameras, no more activity was detected at the trap site. The traps and cameras were removed on April 16th.

The landowner installed some electric fencing around the remaining cows and calves during the trapping operation and no more depredations occurred. Paperwork from the investigation was submitted to the Montana State Livestock Loss Board, which pays for livestock killed by grizzly bears.

While several grizzly bears have been out of their dens since the end of March, most grizzly bears and black bears will be emerging from their dens over the next couple of weeks.

Residents living in or adjacent to bear country are reminded to put away and secure attractants — including garbage, bird feeders and pet food — to avoid attracting bears. People with chickens or other poultry, sheep, goats, pigs, bees or young calves should protect them with a well built and maintained electric fence.