Montana Fish Wildlife and Parks

Corrected 08/02/18, 6 p.m.

Grizzly bears in northern Montana are being killed this year at a rate far outpacing what’s typically seen.

On average, 25 grizzlies are removed from the population each year in the Northern Continental Divide Ecosystem. So far this year that number is already at 27.

A female grizzly bear was found dead last week in the Spotted Bear area south of Hungry Horse Reservoir. A cub was also orphaned by a car wreck last weekend on Highway 93 south of Ronan that killed its mother and two siblings.

Non-native species in Montana have a way of making their presence known.

In June a KULR TV reported this from near the Ft. Belknap reservation:

“Trooper Matt Finley says the driver of the vehicle swerved to avoid hitting a kangaroo,” said Angela Marshall.

Montana’s Environmental Quality Council is trying to find a fair way to raise $6.5 million a year to fund the state’s aquatic invasive species program that screens boats for potential costly invaders.