State wildlife officials report that a grizzly bear has been euthanized after a recently killing cattle in southern Park County.
Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks (FWP) says the adult male bear was captured shortly after it killed a cow on private land last week, and after consulting with the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service (USFWS) and Wildlife Services it was decided that the bear would be euthanized due to this depredation and past depredations in the area.
FWP notes in a news released that "relocating bears safely is difficult at this time of year because of many factors, including high bear densities, heavy recreation use and other land uses in nearby areas."
This is the second management removal of a grizzly bear this year within Montana’s portion of the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem. The first grizzly bear removed in this area in 2020 was captured and transferred to the Grizzly and Wolf Discovery Center in West Yellowstone after gaining access to food at campgrounds in the Rainbow Point area.
Grizzly bears in the lower 48 states are currently listed as threatened under the Endangered Species Act. Management authority for grizzlies rests with the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, working closely in Montana with FWP, Wildlife Services, the U.S. Forest Service and Tribal lands. This collaboration happens through the Interagency Grizzly Bear Committee.
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