Grizzly bear confirmed in Southwest Montana mountain tobacco root range

[cheeser]

Grizzly bear confirmed in Southwest Montana mountain range

Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks is offering up some advice now that a grizzly bear presence has been confirmed in the Tobacco Root Mountains.

www.kpax.com

 

[PRO MO]

surprised that was the first confirmed sighting. i guess i always assumed they were there

 

[LopeHunter]

I was in South Africa recently. Leopards are growing in number and are now something you need to account for as walk outside if you are rural. Can't hunt them legally. They can kill a person of any age or size. Much like a grizzly bear. Changes how you approach leaving your home when you are not in an urban area. Stay safe.

 

[Straight Arrow]

surprised that was the first confirmed sighting. i guess i always assumed they were there

Me too. A rancher friend near Harrison with a small plane and landing strip would check his cattle by air back in the 80's and had spotted a grizzly in the Tobacco Roots a number of times back then.

 

[Nameless Range]

For a few years I've believed the GYE and Crown of the Continent populations have been intermingling. With a griz in the Roots it sure seems that it's time to at least try to verify it. The Griz in the Boulder Mountains, a couple of which were in the Whitetail Valley last year, were theoretically from the northern population.

 

[Forkyfinder]

Lmfao.

That is certainly not the first time. Theres been grizz there for years.

 

[Hem]

Makes perfect sense that with the increase in bear populations individuals are expanding in to areas which link the two populations, mostly to seek out their own turf. But a game camera shot doesn't necessarily confirm grizz are actually setting up shop in either the Tobacco Roots or Elkhorns. I feel sightings are pretty random to assume.
Having climbed all the 10k peaks in the Tobacco range over the course of 20 years, I don't recall ever seeing evidence of grizz " living" there, but I suppose it wouldn't take much for that to change.

 

[Southern Elk]

I honestly didn’t know they had never been confirmed in the Roots. There was one hanging out near the road up south meadow at the divide going down granite creek. Lots of people claimed seeing it. They are thick directly across the highway in the Gravellies. Why wouldn’t they be in the Tobacco Roots?

 

[Rie Bread]

Makes perfect sense that with the increase in bear populations individuals are expanding in to areas which link the two populations, mostly to seek out their own turf. But a game camera shot doesn't necessarily confirm grizz are actually setting up shop in either the Tobacco Roots or Elkhorns. I feel sightings are pretty random to assume.
Having climbed all the 10k peaks in the Tobacco range over the course of 20 years, I don't recall ever seeing evidence of grizz " living" there, but I suppose it wouldn't take much for that to change.

Ima gunna guess it’s because they saw a sow with cubs in the roots vs a single individual.

 

[Forkyfinder]

Ima gunna guess it’s because they saw a sow with cubs in the roots vs a single individual.

there was warning of a sow and cubs at potosi campground, years ago

 

[Rie Bread]

there was warning of a sow and cubs at potosi campground, years ago

Maybe making a den counts as a resident bear?

 

[atlas]

they're showing up all over!

"REGION-WIDE
Grizzly Bear: FWP is receiving reports of grizzly bear activity throughout the Clearwater and Blackfoot Drainages. There have been no recent reports of grizzly bear activity in the Bitterroot Valley or the Missoula area, but there have been multiple grizzly tracks and photos verified in the Ninemile Valley west of Missoula, the Big Hole Valley, the Georgetown Lake area, and there have been multiple reports near Garrison Junction and other portions of the Deer Lodge Valley. Grizzly bears are slowly expanding into historic ranges."

https://missoulabears.org/updates-and-sightings/

 

[psinclair]

I personally saw one on the east side of the Roots in May of 1985 while spring black bear hunting....100% sure.