After a dead calf was discovered near a county road northeast of Red Lodge Thursday, a cooperative investigation between Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks and USDA Wildlife Services revealed a grizzly bear was responsible. A culvert trap was set near the area of depredation, and a young male grizzly bear – 2 ½ years old – was captured Friday morning.

 

The bear was later identified as the same bear captured in October of 2011 in relation to other cattle depredations in the Red Lodge area. After that initial capture, the bear was transported approximately 67 miles to the west into the Gallatin National Forest.

 

Given the bear was involved in two incidents of livestock depredation within a year, FWP and the US Fish and Wildlife Service determined the bear was not suitable for relocation. Instead, the bear was transported to the state wildlife lab in Bozeman and euthanized Friday afternoon. Samples were taken from the bear for research purposes.

 

As the population of grizzly bears has increased, their distribution has expanded. With that expansion, they’re more often entering less suitable habitat where the possibility for conflict increases. These areas contain less natural food sources for grizzly bears