BUTTE — Wildlife officials finally have the two black bear cubs that have been wandering through Butte the past two days fenced in a tree in the middle of the Montana Tech campus.
Unfortunately, they had to fatally shoot the mother of the cubs. It was a decision that many people found very upsetting.
“It just really sucks. I mean, I didn’t hear that she was actually bothering anybody, so I kind of feel they should have waited a little bit before the killed her, you know. She has the babies and it would have been nice if she’d been able to live,” said Butte resident Topanga Sturdevant.
The black bear and her two cubs were first reported foraging through trash on Butte’s westside on Tuesday, August 27.
Montana Fish, Wildlife, and Parks officials eventually shot the sow around 2:40 a.m. on Wednesday on the Montana Tech campus. Police reported the bear was shot twice with a tranquilizer, but it had no effect.
“I mean, it’s sad the mama’s gone, but hopefully they can get the babies protected,” said Montana Tech student Nadia Crawford.
The cubs were found up a tree on the campus. FWP officials, with the aid of campus security, erected a fence around the tree to prevent the cubs from leaving the area. Baited traps were set up to try to capture the cubs.
All this occurred during the first week of the fall semester, so the cubs caught the attention of many on the campus.
“I was sitting in class and I was like, ‘There’s a bear guys,’ and all my friends are looking at me like, ‘It’s a mama with cubs!’ Dude, oh man, this could be really good or really bad,” said student Skyler Fox.
(1st REPORT, AUGUST 27) A black bear sow and her two cubs were spotted in the area south of Park Street and west of Excelsior Street in Butte on Tuesday, August 27, 2024.
As of Tuesday afternoon, Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks had set up baited traps to catch the bears and then take them out of town.
Butte-Silver Bow Law Enforcement Department said the cubs were last seen in the area of West Elementary School, and the sow was last seen in the area of Steel Street and Montrose.
The bears have apparently been feeding on garbage cans in the area.
MTN reporter John Emeigh has been following the story and captured video of the trio (see above).
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