Montana Fish Wildlife and Parks

Montana recorded its first suspected case of chronic wasting disease in wild elk Monday.

Two grizzly bears have been killed in northwest Montana, one by a hunter and one by Montana Fish Wildlife and Parks.

The Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks is reporting a close to average success rate for hunters during the first week of general deer and elk season.

General deer and elk hunting season begins officially at sunrise on Saturday, October 26 and closes at sunset on December 1.

The impetus for this story comes from a report of an injured bear that had to be euthanized near Kila, Montana.

Lake County Sheriff Don Bell said early this week that 9-1-1 received a call from a distressed boater that their boat was sinking on Flathead Lake, but contact was lost before the exact location could be determined.

A mountain biker near Whitefish had a close encounter with a mountain lion and her cubs last week, and even though no one was hurt, Montana Fish Wildlife and Parks Education and Program Manager Dylan Tabish reminds hikers and mountain bikers to be aware of wildlife confrontations.

The temperature will be climbing into the mid to upper 80’s by the end of the week, but Montana Fish Wildlife and Parks is advising people that it’s still not safe to be on area rivers.

Montana Fish Wildlife and Parks officials were forced to euthanize a three year-old male grizzly bear after it repeatedly broke into chicken coops, killing several chickens over a number of days.

With the advent of spring, Montana Fish Wildlife and Parks have opened selected watercraft check stations throughout the state.