Montana Officials Euthanize 14 Black Bears After Alleged Feeding Incident Near Bozeman
Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks (FWP) officials euthanized 14 black bears and relocated one cub after responding to a report of alleged supplemental feeding at a residence north of Bozeman. Investigators found the bears on September 24 and 25 to be 'extremely food conditioned and habituated to human presence.' Due to significant human safety concerns arising from the bears' behavior, the decision was made to capture and humanely euthanize the 14 adult bears. The single cub was transported to FWP’s Montana WILD facility in Helena, with the possibility of placement at an accredited zoo. State law in Montana prohibits providing supplemental feed to game animals, including bears, as this practice can lead to bears losing their natural foraging instincts and becoming a danger to human communities.
