900-pound grizzly wanders into Montana Hutterite Colony

A 900-pound grizzly wandered into the garage of a Hutterite Colony in Montana, Wednesday.

“Members of the Colony tried to deter the bear from the residential area,” said Wesley Sarmento, Fish, Wildlife and Parks bear management specialist in a news release. “However, the bear ran into an open garage to escape from people.”

According to the news release members of the colony, near Valier, Mont., called Sarmento who came to the garage and tranquilized the animal. The bear wasn’t causing any problems, according to the release. The is believed to be 8 years old. After being tranquilized the bear was relocated.

It’s been a busy month for grizzlies in Montana. With the general big game season opening on Oct. 20 conflicts have increased. Most recently a local man was mauled by a bear while hunting. He survived, largely because he had bear spray and knew how to use it.

Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks officials urged people to be prepared and to carry bear spray.

From the release:

“Being prepared in bear country means carrying bear spray and being ready to use it, hunting with a partner and always letting people know where you’re going. Bear spray has been shown to be more effective than a gun at stopping a charging bear.

Using a firearm requires a person to have pin-point accuracy in a stressful situation. Bear spray can be more effective because it sends out a thick, wide cloud of deterrent.

Although firearms are a legal means of self-defense, even with a federal protected species, people with a firearm defending others from a bear sometimes end up shooting the person they are trying to save.”