Wardens relocate black bear attempting to move into Great Falls
GREAT FALLS, Mont. – A young black bear near Great Falls was tranquilized and relocated after moving into a residential area and resisting wardens’ attempts to make him go away. Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks said staff monitored the young bear for days after reports that he had been wandering the east side of Great Falls. FWP said the bear was most likely a cub from last year and weighed around 40 to 50 pounds. Wardens made “repeated” attempts to haze the bear on Sunday and Monday before he moved into a residential area, FWP said. Staff responded to the bears location on Tuesday morning, darted and immobilized the bear, and took him away. He was relocated to a remote area within Cascade County, FWP said. It is common for FWP to relocate bears in residential areas if they have not yet become food-conditioned. Once a bear becomes food-conditioned, it becomes a higher risk to itself and others, prompting wardens to consider if euthanization is required.
