Grizzly Captured Near Stryker And Released Up The North Fork

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A 500-pound, 6-8 year-old male grizzly was captured on April 22 behind the Point of Rocks Restaurant near Stryker west of Highway 93. The grizzly had been getting into a dumpster near the restaurant. The bear was released on April 24 in the North Fork Flathead River Drainage. FWP Grizzly Bear Management Specialist Tim Manley is working with the restaurant owner to install a bear-resistant dumpster

Manley said that grizzly bears have been coming out of their dens the last three weeks based on tracks observed on monitoring flights. Because of the late spring snow pack, bears have few options other than to drop down into the valleys in search of food. Manley reminds all residents to secure any attractants to avoid drawing in grizzly bears. Manley has set another trap for a grizzly in the Star Meadows area that has been frequenting residences there.

FWP Wildlife Manager Jim Williams reminds black bear hunters that most of the bears out right now are grizzly bears; FWP has received very few reports of black bears out of dens yet. Williams advises hunters to postpone hunting plans until later in the season when the weather warms up and black bears are more available.