Mama bear that got too close to people killed in Montana. What happens to her cubs?

Wildlife officials trapped and killed a mother black bear after she had repeated run-ins with people in south-central Montana over two years that continued through this summer.

Efforts to scare the bear away from the area in Carbon County, just northeast of Yellowstone National Park, didn’t work, and she showed no signs of curbing her behavior, Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks said in a July 12 news release.

“FWP staff received reports of and observed this bear in the area over the past two years,” officials said in the release. “The bear repeatedly got into both secured and unsecured attractants such as garbage, approached people and spent significant time lingering near homes.”

Officials killed her “due to food conditioning, habituation and human safety concerns.”

“Food-conditioned and habituated bears have obtained unnatural foods, destroyed property or displayed aggressive, non-defensive behavior towards humans,” officials said. “Once a bear has become food-conditioned, hazing and aversive conditioning are unlikely to be successful in reversing this type of behavior.”

Officials estimate the bear was between 5 and 7 years old. She “had two healthy young-of-the-year cubs,” which officials captured and took to the agency’s wildlife rehabilitation center in Helena. Carbon County is about a 240-mile drive southeast from Helena.

“The cubs will be released later this year,” officials said.

Officials reminded people in bear country to be more careful about coexisting with bears .

“Avoiding conflicts with bears is easier than dealing with conflicts,” officials said. “Bears are curious and food-driven. Securing attractants will greatly reduce the chances of a conflict with a bear.”

To avoid attracting bears, people should:

• Store all attractants in hard-sided buildings with securable doors or bear-resistant bins. Common bear attractants are garbage, human foods, pet and livestock food, grease and dirty grills and coolers.

• Avoid using bird feeders during bear season in the spring, summer, and fall.

• Clean grills and cooking equipment thoroughly after use.

• Don’t let fruit linger in gardens and pick it immediately once it’s ripe.

It’s also important to report any bear conflicts immediately to the agency.

“Addressing initial conflicts promptly can help keep bears from becoming food-conditioned or habituated,” officials said. “In south-central Montana, call the Billings FWP office at 406-247-2940 for bear conflicts and concerns.”

What to do if you see a bear

Bear attacks in the U.S. are rare, according to the National Park Service. In most attacks, bears are trying to defend their food, cubs or space.

There are steps people can take to help prevent a bear encounter from becoming a bear attack.

• Identify yourself: Talk calmly and slowly wave your arms. This can help the bear realize you’re a human and nonthreatening.

• Stay calm: Bears usually don’t want to attack; they want to be left alone. Talk slowly and with a low voice to the bear.

• Don’t scream: Screaming could trigger an attack.

• Pick up small children: Don’t let kids run away from the bear. It could think they’re small prey.

• Hike in groups: A group is noisier and smellier, the National Park Service said. Bears like to keep their distance from groups of people.

• Make yourself look big: Move to higher ground and stand tall. Don’t make any sudden movements.

• Don’t drop your bag: A bag on your back can keep a bear from accessing food, and it can provide protection.

• Walk away slowly: Move sideways so you appear less threatening to the bear. This also lets you keep an eye out.

• Again, don’t run: Bears will chase you, just like a dog would.

• Don’t climb trees: Grizzlies and black bears can also climb.

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