Young grizzly bear caught near Fortine

A three-year-old male grizzly bear “very habituated to human activity and being around homes” was captured in the Deep Creek drainage near Fortine May 23 and released in the Spotted Bear drainage May 24, according to a Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks news release.

The bruin had often been seen feeding in yards and pastures near barns and houses, causing concern for residents and encouraging the agency’s decision to capture the bear and move it to a more remote location, the news release states.

The bear was no stranger to being caught and moved. It was first captured August 10, 2016 in Whitefish on Dakota Avenue where he was feeding in fruit trees.

“He was fitted with a GPS radio collar and released near Frozen Lake on the Canadian border, the news release states.

After being released, the bear moved to Waterton Park in Alberta and then Glacier National Park before ending up in the upper Bowman Creek area where it made a den near Hole-in-the-Wall and Boulder Pass.

“After emerging from his den he traveled down to the North Fork River and then in 12 hours crossed the Whitefish range and ended up in the Deep Creek area near Fortine,” the news release states.

Landowners told authorities the bear might have been in the area to feed on ground squirrels they’d been shooting.