State wildlife officials report a grizzly bear was recently euthanized in the Blackfoot Valley.
Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks (FWP) officials say a young male grizzly bear was euthanized on April 13 after it killed three calves over a period of several days on a ranch east of Ovando.
The grizzly killed three calves between April 10 and April 12, according to FWP. The bear was also suspected to have been responsible for another livestock injury in the same area the week before.
FWP bear management specialist, Jamie Jonkel, said that unfortunately once bears repeatedly pursue livestock, this can be a very hard pattern to break.
Officials trapped the bear and FWP made the decision to euthanize the bear in consultation with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and in accordance with Interagency Grizzly Bear Committee guidelines.
The rancher is working with the local Blackfoot Challenge watershed group to set up an electric fence to help prevent future livestock depredations, according to FWP.
