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Trains Kill Two Grizzly Cubs Near Whitefish

Two grizzly bear cubs killed by a train near Trego were discovered Oct. 15, 2019.
Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks
Two grizzly bear cubs killed by a train near Trego were discovered Oct. 15, 2019.

Two grizzly bear cubs were killed by a train northwest of Whitefish. Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks (FWP) discovered the carcasses Tuesday.

Trains have now killed more grizzlies in 2019 than any year on record.

FWP notified the U.S. Forest Service about the carcasses along a BNSF railway near Trego. The agency also investigated the incident, but could not determine when the cubs were killed.

FWP was also unable to locate the mother of the cubs nearby.

There have been 44 grizzly bear mortalities (deaths or removals from the ecosystem) so far this year in the Northern Continental Divide Ecosystem. Including the two cubs found Tuesday, eight of those mortalities were caused by trains.

Aaron joined the MTPR team in 2019. He reports on all things in northwest Montana and statewide health care.

aaron@mtpr.org or call/text at 612-799-1269
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