Grizzly bears take toll on Montana livestock

All livestock producers take precautions to protect their animals, but they can't always be prepared for all of Montana's predators. Three sheep ranches in the prairies of the golden triangle of north-central Montana suffered losses to a single grizzly bear and her cub with the bears killing 70 sheep in a matter of days. Aaron Jones, a rancher near Conrad, lost 58 sheep from his band of around 2,500 as the precautions he took to protect his herd were no match for grizzlies. "We have Great Pyrenees dogs out with the sheep. They keep the coyotes out, we haven't had any wolf problems so far. I think that day's coming. We can keep the coyotes out, we had dogs in with that band of sheep and they didn't stop the bears," Jones noted.."...more