HAVRE, Mont. (NMB) – Grizzly bears are becoming a more common sight on the plains of north-central Montana.
Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks Bear Specialist Wesley Sarmento says a grizzly bear was spotted on Sunday several miles northwest of Big Sandy, near lonesome lake. They assume this is the same bear that was found south of Rudyard a few days prior, but cannot confirm because a photograph was not taken.
This is the furthest east from the Rocky Mountain front a grizzly has been spotted since the 1890’s, with the exception of a bear found near Stanford in 2017.
Sarmento says grizzlies cannot be hunted because they are federally protected, and this has allowed them to become overpopulated, with more than 1,000 grizzly bears currently in the northern continental divide ecosystem and demographic monitoring area.
“The population has increased to such that the ecosystem and recovery area designed to hold those bears has become full, and now new bears are being added on the margins of that ecosystem.”
He adds that their status also limits how FWP can handle them.
“We can haze grizzly bears. If we go to trap grizzly bears, we have to get approval for that and the relocation spots. And obviously, for euthanizing a grizzly bear, we have to get permission from the US Fish and Wildlife Service Grizzly Bear Coordinator.”
Previous attempts to de-list the Yellowstone Grizzly have been unsuccessful, in part due to lawsuits from environmental groups. Since the Yellowstone Grizzly Bears have been prevented from being de-listed, this has delayed efforts to de-list North Central Montana Grizzly Bears. Sarmento hopes that recent citings on the plains of north-central Montana will change public sentiment.
“We’re having grizzly bears in agriculturally dominated areas, which are just not good places for grizzly bears. The number of grain spills and the number of livestock just makes it a huge chance for those grizzly bears to cause problems. So I would hope that some of the groups that are suing over keeping endangered species act protections would see that and have some common sense.”
As for the grizzly bear near Big Sandy, it has reportedly eaten two chickens, as well as some dog food and garbage.
FWP is currently only allowed to haze it. They were authorized to try capture it after it came near homes, which they did by trying to free-dart and culvert trap it, but it has not come near residences since.
However, since it has come near homes before, if it does so again, they will be allowed to capture it.
Anyone worried about grizzly bears is encouraged to clean up grain spills, put garbage inside, and electrify fences where there are livestock.
In addition, if you see a grizzly bear near your property or livestock, Sarmento suggests trying to safely drive the bear away using hard-sided vehicles.
Montanans are only allowed to shoot grizzly bears if it is in self-defense.
Anyone that sees a grizzly bear in north-central Montana is urged to contact Sarmento at 450-1097.
