Officials capture and kill grizzly near Eureka Bear had killed 8 domestic sheep

Wildlife officials have killed a grizzly bear near Eureka after the bear killed eight domestic sheep.

The 209-pound, 3-year-old male was captured after dark the same day the trap was set on May 11, according to a press release from the Fish, Wildlife and Parks. Federal wildlife officials and FWP investigated and confirmed that the grizzly had killed the sheep after the landowners called to report the incident.

The bear had been previously captured in the fall of 2016 just north of Kalispell after it got into fruit trees next to houses. The bear was released in the North Fork drainage in Whale Creek. Eventually the bear moved to the Eureka and Glenn Lake area in the fall and was being monitored with a radio collar.

While FWP didn’t receive any conflict calls on the bear after release, GPS locations were frequently near residences.

In the last few days, the bear crossed Highway 93, moved west of Eureka and was located at the site of the sheep kill.

According to the release, because of the previous conflict capture and the sheep kills, FWP and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, following the Interagency Grizzly Bear Committee guidelines, made the decision to remove the bear.