Grizzly Euthanized for Killing Cattle in Northwest Montana

Wildlife officials have euthanized an adult female grizzly bear southwest of Augusta following repeated cattle attacks on state land.

According to Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks, the bear was found feeding on a cow carcass Tuesday evening. Investigators confirmed a total of three dead cows in the area had been killed by a grizzly, prompting the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, USDA Wildlife Services, and FWP to authorize removing the animal.

The decision to remove the bear the day after it may have been the one to attack a bowhunter followed a pattern of livestock kills in that area of the Rocky Mountain Front.

Bear was in area of Monday's attack

The incident occurred about three miles from where an archery hunter was attacked along Elk Creek near Haystack Butte on Monday morning. That hunter suffered significant but non-life-threatening injuries in what investigators determined was a surprise, defensive encounter over another nearby cow carcass.

Haystack Butte; Dennis Bragg photo

READ MORE: FWP investigates grizzly attack

Wildlife officials say it remains unknown whether the euthanized female was the same bear that injured the hunter, but because Monday's attack was defensive, no further action is being taken to track down another bear.

Access to state-owned land from Elk Creek Road remains closed while the livestock carcasses remain on the landscape.

Third bear to be put down this month

That part of the front, in the Dearborn River drainage, can be quite active with bears, especially this time of the year, as the grizzlies are hungry and looking to pack on calories in advance of hibernation.

This is the third grizzly FWP has had to remove this month. Earlier, two young grizzlies were removed after causing problems just over the Divide in Lincoln.

     In all, 24 grizzlies have died in Montana this year from a variety of causes.