Noxon woman charged for feeding bears
<p>Several black bears were euthanized because of their food conditioned states.</p>
SANDERS COUNTY - The woman suspected of feeding seven bears in the Heron/Noxon area last year in October, which were later euthanized has been charged in Sanders County Justice Court.
Barbara Sweeney is facing four FWP violations, all of which are misdemeanors. The charges include: unlawful supplemental feeding, unlawful animal menagerie, false statement for menagerie renewal and unlawful possession of black bear.
Sweeney is schedule to appear before the judge in his chambers on August 26 at 1:30 p.m. for her omnibus hearing.
Sweeney allegedly fed the bears located in her residential area for years, operating what she called an animal sanctuary.
The seven bears that were fed were all euthanized because of the threat food conditioned bears pose on people.
In 2012, FWP officials deemed the bears were dangerous to humans because of the association of food with humans.
Six males and one female were put down, the bears weighing in at 484 pounds, 300 pounds, 446 pounds, 106 pounds 158 pounds, 125 pounds and 185 pounds.
The unusually large weight of the black bears was due to the feeding that took place.
The bodies of the bears were buried in a landfill to prevent contact with people and other wildlife.