Sept. 20 – The mother of the grizzly bear euthanized last week south of Libby had a history of conflict in the Ferndale area, authorities say.
The 2-year-old male grizzly bear was captured on Sept. 15 by Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks officials after reports of break-ins at chicken coops, greenhouses and storage sheds near Barren Peak Road off U.S. 2 in the Silver Butte area.
The bear, who was first relocated to the South Fork by state officials along with his siblings this spring because his mother had a history of conflict in the Ferndale area, traveled north of Marion between April and July 2024, eventually ending up in the Silver Butte area. *
“He never moved into the Libby area, he moved naturally,” Dillon Tabish, regional communications and education program manager for Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks, said in an email.
Food-conditioned bears pose a safety risk to people because they seek food in populated areas instead of natural food sources. When the bear arrived in the Libby area, it was feeding on chickens, chicken feed, fruits, vegetables and grain, according to the state wildlife agency.
Authorities were unable to estimate the damage to local residents.
The bear was fitted with a collar, meaning officials received GPS data from the animal approximately every 48 hours. Because the animal evaded people and divers, authorities relied on radio telemetry to triangulate its approximate location.
According to officials, the first report of a conflict with the bear came in on August 20.
According to Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks, there are several ways to reduce the risk of conflict with bears, including installing electric fencing and providing attractants such as feeders, grills and bird feeders.
Officials urged residents to report all conflicts to the state wildlife agency. The numbers for wildlife management specialists can be found at https://fwp.mt.gov/conservation/wildlife-management/bear/contact.
Reporter Kate Heston can be reached at kheston@dailyinterlake.com or 758-4459.
*This paragraph has been edited to accurately describe the bear’s history.
