A grizzly bear killed a cow calf early this week near Two Dot in central Montana, according to Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks.
“It’s in an area that bears haven’t been for several decades,” says FWP Spokesperson Greg Lemon.
Lemon says after the killing, Wildlife Services attempted to catch the grizzly with a snare, but ended up trapping a black bear, which was released. Traps were pulled due to the high number of black bears in the area.
Lemon says the grizzly population in Montana is growing due to state and federal conservation efforts. This, combined with human population growth, has led bears to disperse to other areas.
“The bears start moving out to find room to roam and more space and more food, it’s just a function of that expanding population,” Lemon said.
Lemon said hunters in all of Montana should carry bear spray, hunt with a partner, let others know of their location, and look for signs of bears.
“Do all things that you need to do to be bear aware and avoid conflict with a grizzly bear,” Lemon said.
