Problem bear removed from Buffalo Bill area
<p>A female bear was trapped in the Buffalo Bill area and transported northeast of the reservation near Blacktail.</p>
PLAINS – A suspected problem bear was removed from the Buffalo Bill area on Friday after it destroyed numerous bird feeders on a property and broke into a garage to get into the trash.
A concerned neighbor on Buffalo Bill Road who wished to stay anonymous stated the bear had destroyed over five bird feeders and had caused at least $100 in damage.
According to Wildlife Management Specialist Kim Annis an adult female black bear was caught and transported to the backside of Blacktail, northeast of the reservation. Annis stated the relocation was close enough to allow the bear to return if she chose to.
According to Annis there are several bears in the Buffalo Bill neighborhood area and one of them had popped open a flimsy door to a garage and helped itself to the garbage.
There is no way to tell if the captured bear was the one responsible for the damage.
Annis explained the female was in estrus or otherwise in her breeding season.
“Because she was in estrus in all likelihood the other bears were males and in the area because she was. Since we removed her, there haven’t been sightings of any more bears,” said Annis.
While the female bear was contained in the bear trap the neighbor said another bear entered into her yard and her husband had to shoot his rifle into the air to scare it off.
Annis recommended residents to bring in all bird feeders especially at night and to secure garbage “behind four walls, a roof and a door, keeping it there 24/7.”
“Every issue is based on situation and every situation is different. Another bear could come back, it depends on what happens and the who’s and where’s,” said Annis.
Annis said she suggests people stop feeding songbirds at this time because bears enjoy the birdseed.
She also suggested that any type of animal food be made unavailable especially at night whether it be cat food or food for poultry.
“If there are concerns about that happening again, they can contact us,” said Annis stating they have numerous resources and information that can help keep the problem from occurring again.