Grizzly Encounters Spiking in Montana

Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks says there have been more than 40 reports of conflicts with grizzly bears statewide since the first of September. And the hot spots for those conflicts are centered in places like the Flathead, the Seeley-Swan, Red Lodge, and, interestingly enough, the zone just east of Missoula.

The agency says there have been 184 reports of grizzly conflicts so far this year, with the most conflicts in the eastern Flathead Valley, from Bigfork north to Creston, with a dozen reports of conflicts, and the area north of Seeley, around Condo,n with 13.

The zone just east of Missoula, around Potomac, has seen 10 conflicts, the zone around Valier with 9, and Red Lodge with 8. Over 60 reports were of a grizzly killing livestock.

In all, 28 grizzlies have been killed in Montana this year. Half a dozen of those were in the Bozeman zone, with 4 in Park County. 3 grizzlies died in Choteau County and 2 in Missoula County.

New reports out of Yellowstone indicate that 63 grizzlies have died in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem this year, which, given that this is the season when conflicts with humans spike, could lead to a record number of mortalities.

     Outside Magazine and other sources are reporting the bear deaths, compared with 77 grizzly bears that died last year.

Two new grizzly encounters reported near Big Sky

Fortunately, three archery hunters are uninjured after two recent encounters with grizzly bears in the Taylor Fork south of Big Sky.

The first encounter involved two hunters on Sept. 29. They were hunting in the vicinity of a known elk carcass when they saw a grizzly. They yelled at the bear, but it came toward them. They fired handguns as a warning, and the grizzly left unharmed.

Oct. 3rd, a lone hunter reportedly encountered a grizzly bear at close range. The bear charged, and the hunter deployed bear spray, which stopped the charge. The hunter left the area and reported the incident to FWP.

Alme's appointment is finally permanent

Kurt Alme is permanently on post now as the U.S. Attorney for the Montana District, after the Senate finally confirmed his appointment this week.

Alme was confirmed along a party-line vote of 51-to-47, further evidence of the disputes taking place over the Trump Administration nominees. Senators Daines and Sheehy are both praising his appointment, saying they're "thrilled" with his confirmation.

Alme, a Montana native, has seen support for his past work. State Representative Shelly Fyant, the former CSKT Tribal Chair, praised his work on drug abuse on the reservations and the issue of Missing and Murdered Indigenous People.

READ MORE: Alme Orders Focus on Reservation MMIP Cases

Tricky pass travel this weekend

If you're driving over the Western Montana passes this weekend, especially from Saturday night to Monday, you'd better have your vehicle prepped for winter driving, with significant snowfall in the forecast.

National Weather Service Meteorologist Trent Parker says the biggest snow is expected on Highway 2, where Marias Pass could receive up to 16 inches by Monday.

Other pass outlooks include Lost Trail pass from 2-to-7 inches, the same on Lookout Pass and Lolo Pass, up to 4 inches on Homestake, where icing could be more of a problem than the snow.

Poachers nabbed in Big Horn County

Three Big Horn County men are facing dozens of charges after being nabbed in the latest poaching case for Montana FWP and its partner agencies.

A special prosecutor is charging the trio for killing several bull elk and one mule deer buck in the Sarpy Creek area near Hardin in 2022 and 2023. Acting on a report of a headless elk carcass, investigators executed several search warrants and seized multiple elk mounts that were turned over voluntarily to FWP.

     The accused poachers are facing 33 total charges, including 10 felonies.