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Grizzly Bear Captured Near Loma

By KFBB News Team

Story Created: Jul 1, 2009 at 5:35 PM MST

Story Updated: Jul 1, 2009 at 5:50 PM MST

After weeks of wandering along the Teton River, a grizzly bear was captured Tuesday night near Loma.

The young male grizzly weighed in at 238 pounds and was discovered to be in great shape. Authorities had been keeping tabs on the bear since originally spotting it days earlier on the Teton River north of Fort Benton.

It is estimated the bear traveled at least 175 miles down the Teton from the Pine Butte Swamp, the location of the closest grizzly bear population. Once authorities noticed the bear had killed a sheep, they tranquilized it and fitted it with an ear tag, microchip, and radio collar.

Bruce Auchly, an information officer for Fish, Wildlife, and Parks, explains, "We think this bear was just on a walk-about. It was a young bear, and probably trying to find its territory, and just started following the Teton."

The bear was later relocated west of Marias Pass on the Flathead National Forest.

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