NEWS

Bear spotted near Wadsworth Park in Great Falls

Erin Madison
emadison@greatfallstribune.com

Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks is looking for a black bear spotted on the westside of Great Falls on Friday afternoon.

“We had a report of black bear near Wadsworth Park,” said Bruce Auchly, spokesman for FWP Region 4 in Great Falls.

Wardens are looking for the bear, Auchly said.

Black bears have been spotted several times recently in Great Falls and the surrounding area.

This is the time of year that bears are preparing for hibernation and trying to eat as much as they can. However, the berry crop hasn’t been good this year, causing bears to range farther in search of food. Bears are showing up in town and in other places they wouldn’t usually be.

On Tuesday, FWP captured a black bear sow and two cubs in Wolf Creek. The bears had been getting into the garbage at the Frenchman’s Restaurant.

The three bears were released in the Little Belts.

The rise in bear activity is prompting state wildlife officials to ask residents to keep bear attractants contained.

Bears can be drawn to populated areas by unsecured garbage cans, the smell of pet food, bird feeders and dirty barbecue grills.

Bears that encounter human-supplied food sources often have a hard time returning to natural food. A conditioned bear will travel miles to get to a garbage can, Auchly said.