Grizzlies caught in Whitefish

Two grizzlies captured in Whitefish, released in North Fork

A young grizzly showed up in Whitefish on Aug. 9 on Dakota Avenue in a residential area. Bear management specialist Tim Manley set a trap in the late morning near the cherry tree the bear was observed in.  The bear was seen several more times that evening near Wildwood Condos and The Lodge at Whitefish Lake.

 
The bear was captured in the trap on August 10 about noon. It was an unmarked, 2-year old male that weighed 158 pounds with no previous management history. The bear was released on August 11 near Frozen Lake on the BC border.

On the afternoon of August 9, a trap was set for a grizzly bear south of Blanchard Lake. The bear had gotten into dog food and garbage. That bear was captured early in the morning of August 10.   It is an unmarked, 4-year old male, weighing 245 pounds with no previous management history. This bear was also released near Frozen Lake. 
 
Both bears were fitted with GPS satellite collars.

A grizzly bear at a trap in Glacier National Park.

Manley says that some grizzly bears are staying in the valley bottom to feed on serviceberry and hawthorn berries. Fruit trees also have apples, plums, and pears that are ripening up right now. Residents should pick their fruit as soon as possible and also make sure other attractants such as garbage, pet food, and bird feeders are not available.