Grizzly bears kill more Montana livestock

Growing numbers of grizzly bears venturing east from the Rocky Mountains are attacking more domestic cattle and sheep. Montana's livestock-loss program has reimbursed ranchers for 42 animals killed by grizzlies in the first nine months of 2015 - eight more than in all of 2014, and that's not counting the 22 cattle lost to bears that had not been claimed. One report came from as far east as Floweree, Montana, about 160km northeast of Helena, George Edwards of the Montana Livestock Loss Board said. However, Wyoming officials expected a less drastic increase in livestock attacks and the range of roaming by grizzly bears. "We're having what I guess you would call a steady increase in livestock depredation as grizzly population and area expand," said Brian DeBolt, Wyoming's large carnivore conflict coordinator...more