KALISPELL — State wildlife officials report a black bear was recently trapped and euthanized after incidents at a pair of campgrounds in Flathead County.
According to a news release, Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks (FWP) was notified of a black bear getting into “unsecured food attractants” at the Emery Bay Campground and Goose Head dispersed camping site at the north end of the Hungry Horse Reservoir.
![Hungry Horse Reservoir Map](https://ewscripps.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/abf9e97/2147483647/strip/true/crop/1920x1080+0+0/resize/1280x720!/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fewscripps-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F1b%2F07%2Fd2d4055a48b8a97478d67b695276%2Fhungry-horse-reservoir.png)
FWP reports a camper was cited for disobeying the Flathead National Forest food storage order.
Traps were set on July 4 and the camping sites were closed. FWP captured the male bear on July 8 and euthanized it due to food conditioning, the release states. The camping sites have since been reopened.
![Screenshot 2024-07-10 at 09.25.34.png](https://ewscripps.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/f47921b/2147483647/strip/true/crop/1339x781+0+0/resize/1280x747!/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fewscripps-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fb5%2Fea%2F433502434890bba6670f33596dd5%2Fscreenshot-2024-07-10-at-09-25-34.png)
FWP notes Montana is bear country and campers should “Be Bear Aware” and secure food attractants.
- Keep food and anything with a scent out of tents.
- Dispose of garbage in bear resistant bins; otherwise, take it with you and dispose of it properly elsewhere.
- Do not bury or burn garbage.
- Follow local land management agency food storage orders [links-2.govdelivery.com] and properly store unattended food and anything else with a scent.
Learn more information at https://fwp.mt.gov/conservation/wildlife-management/bear.
FWP advises that bear conflicts should be reported immediately to wildlife officials.
In Northwest Montana, contact:
- North portion of Flathead County and Eureka area - Justine Vallieres, 406-250-1265
- South portion of Flathead County - Erik Wenum, 406-250-0062
- Cabinet-Yaak ecosystem and Sanders County – Garrett Tovey, 406-291-1320
- Flathead Indian Reservation - Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes Wildlife Management Program, 406-275-2774