KALISPELL (AP)— Federal and state wildlife officials this weekend captured and killed a small grizzly bear that raided several camps for food and had lost all fear of humans.
After several reports that the bear was pawing in coolers or digging for food in fire pits, officials decided the 2-year-old bear had become dangerous to humans. It was tranquilized Thursday and taken to a wildlife laboratory in Bozeman, where it was euthanized over the weekend.
The 145-pound grizzly had become so bold it defied campers Thursday when they tried to chase it out of Lid Creek Campground on the west side of Hungry Horse Reservoir, an official at the Fish, Wildlife and Parks Department said. It found dog food in a fire pit and raided several coolers.
That was the bear's downfall. Grizzly bear specialist Tim Manley, who had been trying to trap the bear for days, arrived in time to dart it with a tranquilizer gun.
Last week the bear chased a couple into the lake to steal their tortilla chips, which it smashed and left in a pile. It had apparently been rummaging through campsites near Hungry Horse Reservoir within the past few weeks, said Jim Williams, the region's wildlife manager for Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks.
‘‘He was a pretty bold bear,'' Williams said.
This bear was particularly dangerous because it showed no wariness of humans, Williams said. It's one thing for a bear to wander campsites at night, he said, but it's another for it to be crashing parties so early in the day.
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After several reports that the bear was pawing in coolers or digging for food in fire pits, officials decided the 2-year-old bear had become dangerous to humans. It was tranquilized Thursday and taken to a wildlife laboratory in Bozeman, where it was euthanized over the weekend.
The 145-pound grizzly had become so bold it defied campers Thursday when they tried to chase it out of Lid Creek Campground on the west side of Hungry Horse Reservoir, an official at the Fish, Wildlife and Parks Department said. It found dog food in a fire pit and raided several coolers.
That was the bear's downfall. Grizzly bear specialist Tim Manley, who had been trying to trap the bear for days, arrived in time to dart it with a tranquilizer gun.
Last week the bear chased a couple into the lake to steal their tortilla chips, which it smashed and left in a pile. It had apparently been rummaging through campsites near Hungry Horse Reservoir within the past few weeks, said Jim Williams, the region's wildlife manager for Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks.
‘‘He was a pretty bold bear,'' Williams said.
This bear was particularly dangerous because it showed no wariness of humans, Williams said. It's one thing for a bear to wander campsites at night, he said, but it's another for it to be crashing parties so early in the day.
Want to learn more?
http://helenair.com/articles/2003/07/08/montana_top/a01070803_03.txt