Grizzly bear killed in Ronan area

RONAN — The Tribal Wildlife Management Program reports that a female grizzly bear was killed by a local landowner.

“The case is under investigation,” Pablo Espinoza, Chief of Tribal Fish and Game, said.

Grizzly bears are a threatened and endangered species protected by the Endangered Species Act.

The incident occurred in the late afternoon on May 14 approximately three miles east of Ronan.

The two-year-old female had allegedly killed chickens earlier that day and returned in the afternoon. The landowner subsequently shot and killed the bear.

Stacy Courville of the Tribal Wildlife Management Program reiterates that there have been four grizzly bears removed or killed due to unprotected livestock within a year. An adult female and two cubs were removed to the Louisville Zoo in August of 2010. This is the first grizzly bear mortality reported on the Flathead Indian Reservation this year.

“There is a huge increase in chicken production in the Mission Valley, and the bears have keyed into unprotected chicken coops,” said Courville.

There will be a predator electric fence clinic on Wednesday, June 8 from 5-8 p.m. at Cenex Mountain West Co-Op in Ronan. Small livestock producers are encouraged to attend the clinic and learn effective ways to protect both livestock and wildlife.

For more information on bears in the Mission Valley or to report a bear problem contact Stacy Courville, Chief Espinoza or Germaine White at 883-2888.