Carcass cleanup crews try to stay ahead of grizzlies

After a particularly tough winter, ranchers around grizzly bear country have opportunities to get their weather-killed livestock carcasses picked up before the bears find them. Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks has partnered with the Montana Stockgrowers Association, Montana Wildlife Federation and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to provide carcass collection this spring along the Rocky Mountain Front. A similar program including the Blackfoot Challenge and the Montana Department of Transportation provides that service in the Blackfoot Valley area. Several ranches reported grizzlies visiting their compounds last year seeking dead cattle or other carrion, according to Blackfoot Challenge wildlife committee chairman Randy Gazda. He advised landowners to keep carrion at least 400 yards from human and livestock activity in a spot with good visibility to avoid accidentally encountering a feeding bear. The Blackfoot Challenge and FWP can arrange emergency removals of dead animals if necessary, but also have routine collection schedules. “Last year, we collected 418 carcasses from 35 ranches,” Gazda said in an email. “All told we have removed more than 7,820 carcasses off of 110 ranches in the Blackfoot and Granite County.”...MORE