Adult Grizzly Killed By Train

A Burlington Northern Santa Fe freight train killed an adult male grizzly bear in Flathead County over the Memorial Day weekend, the state Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks announced Tuesday.

Tim Manley, bear management specialist, said the bear was feeding on natural vegetation when it wandered onto the tracks Saturday. It may not have heard the train because of noise from a nearby waterfall, he said.

There was no grain spill that attracted the bear, Manley said. Grain spills in past years have attracted bears to their deaths.

FWP spokesman John Fraley said the department has been working with BN to slow its trains in certain areas, but this bear’s death may have been unavoidable.