Friday, May 24, 2013

Black bear shot by rancher

A rancher who killed a black bear outside Forsyth on Tuesday morning won’t face criminal charges, a Fish, Wildlife and Parks spokeswoman said Thursday. Bill Anderson, who ranches northeast of Forsyth, told FWP officials that he felt the bear was threatening cows when he shot the animal, which had been reported several times in the area since Sunday. The bear was probably searching for new territory. A game warden was en route with a tranquilizer when the bear was killed, said Cathy Stewart, information officer with the Miles City FWP office. Typically, FWP will haze or relocate black bears to more remote areas, Stewart said, but every encounter varies, and circumstances such as immediate danger, behavior and human safety are considered. In this case, after discussions with the Rosebud County attorney, it was decided not to prosecute Anderson. The hide and head of the 190-pound male bear were saved for educational purposes. Montana black bear populations are on the rise and sightings are expected to increase, Stewart said...more

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