Field reports: Tough love OK’d for Glacier’s bears
PARKS – Glacier National Park recently announced new rules that make it easier to haze or kill problem grizzly bears — a response to last year’s shooting of a bear that had become increasingly bold around humans.
Glacier wildlife biologist John Waller said the new rules allow the park to take action with bears that have run-ins with people before bigger problems can develop.
The rules lower the bar under which park administrators can list a bear as “conditioned.” That designation can trigger hazing or killing the animal to keep visitors safe.
Bears will now be considered conditioned if they closely approach people or repeatedly touch tents, backpacks or food containers. Previously the animals had to steal food, destroy property or display aggressive behavior toward people.
Associated Press
City’s deer issue
grinds to a halt
WILDLIFE – Helena is finally declaring victory in its three-year effort to control mule deer in the city limits of the Montana capital.
About 400 deer have been trapped and killed in the city in the past two years.
“We’ve definitely seen a turnaround in the number of conflicts with humans, deer getting hit by cars and aggressive animals,” said Mike Ottman, a Helena-based game warden with Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks.
At the peak of the problem, city police were fielding more than 400 complaints a year about aggressive deer or deer that were dead or injured from conflicts with traffic or dogs.
Helena Independent Record
Tribes stall Cascades
bike park plan
CYCLING – The Tulalip Tribes is appealing a federal decision to allow construction of a mountain bike park and water treatment system at Stevens Pass Ski area.
The U.S. Forest Service in April approved the first phase of a major development plan by owners of the Stevens Pass Ski Resort.
The tribes have appealed, saying the agency needs to do a complete environmental review of the entire project, not just the first phase.
Associated Press
Aggressive bear killed near St. Regis
CAMPING – Montana game wardens killed a black bear Thursday after it had injured a man when it bit through his tent at a primitive national forest campsite near St. Regis.
Rob Holmes, of Ellensburg, was awakened early Monday morning when he felt the 170-pound sow bear bite his ear. It took 21 stitches to close the wound.
Although Holmes was practicing good camping techniques with food properly stored away, the bear apparently was drawn into the area by food and other attractants that were left at a nearby camp site, wildlife officials said.
Wardens also killed the sow’s cub Thursday after confirming reports the bears had become accustomed to human food.
Staff and wire reports