Dog eating bear in Glacier Park euthanized

Glacier National Park rangers captured and killed a marauding black bear at the head of Lake McDonald on June 1 after it killed and ate a 15-pound pet shih-tzu.

The incident originated on May 30 around 6 p.m. when a private landowner notified a ranger that a black bear approached his residence along the shore of Lake McDonald, attacked his dog on the porch and carried the small dog into a wooded area.

Rangers were unable to locate the bear or the dog, and a bear trap was set in the area Saturday night. A five-year-old, 200-pound male black bear was trapped on Monday. Park personnel verified that the correct animal had been captured by comparing photographs provided by the landowner and evidence from the bear's scat.

Park officials said the aggressive manner in which the bear approached the residence, went on the deck, and attacked and consumed the dog indicated the animal was conditioned. There were also two previous incidents of the bear approaching the residence.

This is the second time this year that Park rangers killed a wild animal after it attacked a dog that lived inside the Park. A mountain lion was shot and killed by a ranger after the lion attacked a dog in the Park Headquarters employee housing area on March 21.

Black bears are not an endangered species and are fairly common in the Park. Rangers believed the bear was a potential threat to human safety and euthanized it in accordance with the Park's Bear Management Plan.

Behavior of conditioned bears includes seeking and obtaining non-natural foods, destroying property and displaying aggressive non-defensive behavior towards humans. Conditioned bears are not relocated due to human safety concerns.

Black bears are not good candidates for animal capture facilities such as zoos and animal parks due to the plentiful nature of the species throughout the U.S.

Wildlife is attracted to food and food odors. Regulations require that all edibles, food containers and cookware be stored in a hard-sided vehicle or food locker when not in use, day or night. Trash should go in bear-proof containers, and fire rings should be free of trash before a campsite is vacated.

For more information, visit online at www.nps.gov/glac/planyourvisit/bears.htm.