On Tuesday night, Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks staff was notified by the U.S. Forest Service of a possible bear carcass along the railroad tracks southeast of Trego. FWP Regional Information and Education Program Manager Dillon Tabish explains.

“Our staff investigated and determined that they were grizzly bears,” Tabish said. “FWP identified a dead female cub and another cub of unknown sex located on and near the tracks. We didn’t locate an adult female and we notified the BNSF Railway about the collision. Unfortunately, they do count as more mortalities for grizzly bears specifically related to train collisions.”

This year to date, there have been 44 known or probable grizzly bear mortalities in the Northern Continental Divide Ecosystem across northwest Montana. Of those, eight have involved train collisions, which is the most in a single year on record.

Tabish reminded folks that bear encounters happen quite a bit this time of year and it is important to always be prepared.

“With hunting season getting started, hunters are going to be out in the woods and they should be bear aware,” Tabish said. “I recommend carrying bear spray and knowing how to use it. Try to be aware of any bear sign that may be in the area where you’re hunting. Always be cautious in bear country.”

The grizzly bear is listed as a threatened species in the lower 48 states under the federal Endangered Species Act. For more information about grizzly bears in Montana, visit here.

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