Montana grizzly involved in calf depredation destroyed

It's not common for a grizzly bear to prey on calves and cattle, especially so late in the year, but after more than 10 large calves and a 1,400-pound cow west of Dupuyer were found dead with signs of grizzly depredation, there was no denying it. The U.S. Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services and Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks launched a joint investigation into the matter. On Friday, another large calf was discovered to be grizzly prey. On Saturday, an adult male grizzly was snared. On Monday, the bear was euthanized.After the bear was checked for markings, such as tattoos or tags, it was determined this was the grizzly's first capture. "We agreed that this bear was responsible for preying on the large calf and is possibly responsible for the others," Mike Madel, an FWP grizzly bear management specialist, said. "We feel it's likely the bear was involved in the other cattle depredation, but it is possible – because the depredations styles were different – that there is another bear. We just don't know, but we hope this is the bear."...more