Another Extremely Conditioned Montana Grizzly Bear Euthanized

Way too much temptation to indulge in easy pickings, and going so far as to break into homes.

It's another unfortunate tale for one of Montana's official state animals. And with increasing frequency over the past several weeks, officials determined there were no other options.

Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks tells us that a habitually food-conditioned grizzly bear was shot and killed by staff members Thursday (July 18) after a lengthy run of obtaining unsecured food attractants and breaking into houses in and around Gardiner, at the edge of Yellowstone National Park.

Montana FWP grizzly bear specialists and game wardens conducted a patrol in search of the bear that had frequented not only Gardiner, but other nearby communities. The end came early Thursday morning, after a report that a bear had broken into a home in Maiden Basin. FWP staff responded and spotted the bear while it was in the Yellowstone River. After recovering the carcass from the river, officials confirmed that it was the same bear that had been involved in the many recent conflicts.

GOING FROM BAD TO WORSE

Initial reports began in early June and escalated. During that time, a grizzly bear regularly sought and obtained unsecured attractants at residences, businesses and vehicles. The attractants included garbage, human food, barbecue grills and pet food. These were stored in coolers, vehicles, camp trailers, sheds, garbage cans that were not bear resistant or unlocked bear-resistant garbage cans.

CLOSE ENCOUNTERS WITHIN THE HOME

The bear also broke into several occupied residences to retrieve food, including homes in Gardiner and Maiden Basin, as well as a National Park Service employee's house in Mammoth. Several property owners attempted to haze the bear, but it returned to Gardiner and surrounding areas almost nightly to obtain food.

No human injuries were reported.

FWP staff has offered extensive educational outreach to residents in the area, working with several property owners to secure or upgrade their garbage cans or install electric fencing.