Deadly week for grizzly bears along Montana highways

KALISPELL — It’s been a deadly few days for grizzly bears in Northwest Montana.

Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks reports that three grizzly bears were hit and killed by vehicles in the past week.

Grizzly Bear Management Specialist Tim Manley says a the first incident involved a a female cub that was found dead along Montana Highway 35 along Flathead Lake during the morning hours of October 27.

The second grizzly was hit and killed by a logging truck the night of October 27 on Montana Highway 83 near mile marker 50. The adult male grizzly had been captured in 2011 near Lake Blaine and released in the Spotted Bear drainage.

The third grizzly bear was found dead on the morning of November 2 also along Highway 83 – this time near mile marker 53. The animal was a yearling female grizzly bear, according to Manley.

FWP states in a news release that there have been several reports of grizzly bears being seen feeding on road-killed deer along the Swan Highway over the last several weeks.