Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks (FWP) reports that on Thursday, July 18, 2024, staff shot and killed a food-conditioned grizzly bear that had been entering homes in and around Gardiner.
Early Thursday morning, FWP received a report of a bear breaking into a home in Maiden Basin, north of Gardiner. FWP staff responded and euthanized the bear in the Yellowstone River.
FWP retrieved the carcass later that afternoon and confirmed it was the same bear involved in multiple recent conflicts.
Learn more about the grizzly bear incident in Gardiner from Montana FWP:
Grizzly bear killed after breaking into homes in Gardiner area
Reports of conflicts with the grizzly began in early June and escalated over the past three weeks. The bear was attracted to unsecured sources of food at homes, businesses, and vehicles, including garbage, human food, grills, and pet food.
According to FWP, the bear broke into several homes to get food and despite attempts to deter it, it continued to return almost nightly to the Gardiner area.
No injuries to humans were reported. FWP, along with Bear Aware Gardiner, provided educational outreach to secure garbage and install electric fencing.
Due to safety concerns, FWP specialists attempted to trap and remove the bear but were limited by the bear’s nocturnal activity and the abundance of attractants. The habituated bear was safely removed after breaking into an occupied home.
Genetic samples collected from the bear matched a known adult male grizzly previously tagged for research. FWP thanks various agencies for their assistance and reminds residents to secure attractants to prevent future wildlife conflicts.
Montana is bear country and encounters with grizzlies are becoming more common. Securely store food and garbage to avoid attracting bears, as feeding wildlife is illegal and can result in fines.
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Residents, businesses, and visitors are urged to store attractants indoors or in bear-resistant containers to prevent conflicts with grizzly bears, listed as threatened under the Endangered Species Act.
