Montana FWP Officials Euthanize Grizzly in Park County

In a press release sent out Monday, Montana Fish, Wildlife, and Parks officials said that grizzly bear was euthanized after a recent cattle depredation in south Park County.

The adult male bear was captured shortly after it killed a cow on private land on Wednesday, July 29. The decision was made to euthanize the bear due to this depredation and past depredations in the area.

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 the demographic monitoring area of 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 bear populations continue to become denser and more widespread in Montana, increasing the likelihood that residents and visitors will encounter them in new places each year. Being prepared for such encounters is more important than ever, both to keep people and property safe and to cultivate healthy bear behavior.