Smith River Landowner Charged for Feeding Bears

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State and federal wildlife officials had to destroy five black bears this month on the Smith River because they became food conditioned after being hand fed by an area landowner-outfitter, a state game warden says.

Gary Anderson, 71, of the Heaven on Earth Ranch on the Smith paid a $135 fine this summer for feeding grain to black bears, says Fish, Wildlife and Parks game warden Bryan Golie.

“He fed bears grain out of his hand and he put grain on the ground,” Golie says. “He admitted feeding bears for years.”

  As a result of Anderson’s actions, FWP officials issued a kill permit allowing federal wildlife service agents to destroy five black bears that had been habituated to humans. The permit expired Sept. 14.

“Bears that associate humans with food can become dangerous to humans and livestock,” Golie says.

Wildlife enforcement officials are convinced that Anderson’s actions led to several human-bear confrontations on the Smith this summer.

Twice in May, once in June, and once in July, floaters had bear encounters in their camps. In one instance a black bear confronted a floater hiking a nearby U.S. Forest Service trail. In the other three instances bears tore through coolers of food at night while people slept nearby.

In a separate incident, FWP Smith River ranger Terry Antonich while camped at upper Sunset Cliffs boat camp was awakened one July night by a black bear licking his hand. Antonich reported bear scat nearby that appeared to contain grain.

FWP closed upper, middle and lower Sunset Cliff boat camps in July. They will remain closed for the remainder of the season.

“Feeding wildlife can lead animals to associate humans with a food reward,” Golie says. “That can lead to problems later and ultimately mean the animal has to be put down. It’s also illegal.”

Anyone who is aware of wildlife being fed illegally should contact his, or her, local game warden or call 1-800- TIP MONT.