Some young grizzly bears were caught swimming in Flathead Lake, and one wandered through Boettcher Park, causing chaos as officials worked to keep the public and the bears safe on Friday, Sept. 18. 

Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes wildlife biologist Payton Adams explained that after the incident, they learned two bears were in the area and are believed to be two young siblings. He said one was scared out of town before officials arrived. 

Adams said one young female bear was scared toward the park, and he called Eric Wenum, a FWP wildlife management specialist, to help. Officials set up a bear trap and attempted to haze the bear out of the area. 

Multiple agencies, including the Polson Police Department, Tribal Fish and Game, Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks and the CSKT Wildlife Program, responded to the wandering bear. 

With the Grizzly nearby, the Polson Police Department knocked on doors, warning residents, and the Polson Bay Golf Course was prepared to blast the horn and get everyone off the course if the bear headed to the course. 

The Polson City Commission heavily discussed the wandering bear incident when Commissioner Tracie McDonald asked for an update during the meeting. 

“Who doesn't want to go to our parks? You know what I'm saying? We have great parks,” Interim City Manager George Simpson joked before telling the commission what occurred. 

Commissioner Lisa Rehard recounted watching Golf Superintendent Pat Nowlen direct officials to set a bear trap across from her house. 

“‘Oh, I'm so glad I was out walking around there earlier,’” Rehard recalled thinking as she watched them place the bear trap. 

Rehard added that she’s now carrying bear spray on her walks, and Mayor Laura Dever joked during the meeting that the area just has some “new neighbors.” 

During the incident, the bear ended up in a private backyard, leading Wenum to use a tranquilizer to knock the bear out so they could capture and relocate it. However, the bear rolled into the water after the tranquilizer kicked in. To save her from drowning, Wenum and Polson Officer Colton Holcomb jumped in the lake to keep her head above water. 

“He had to jump into the water to save the grizzly bear,” Cameron Milton, the director of golf at the course, said, as he told the story to the commission. “If it wasn't for Officer Holcomb, the bear potentially would have drowned.” 

Adams explained that the two pulled her to shore and wrapped her in a space blanket to help retain her body heat. He said the bear was relocated and the team was able to grab hair samples and place an ear tag on her. 

“It was a chaotic day,” Adams said. 

He believes these were just young, hungry bears, freshly out on their own and following whatever scents caught their noses. 

“She was just curious and happened to find herself in the wrong place at the wrong time,” he said. 

Tribal Chief Game Warden Dan McClure explained that a bear trap was quickly set in order to keep the bear safe, but it is Montana and “we have bears all the time.” Simpson added during the meeting that black bear activity is more common within city limits, but he believes the poor berry season could have contributed to the bear’s visit to town. 

McClure said people may still see bear traps in the area because they are set as a precaution in case the initial bear that was scared out of town comes back looking for its sibling, but “I doubt it will,” he said. 

Nowlen added during the meeting that he was very thankful for the professionalism of the police department officers and CSKT officials and their priority to keep the golfers and community safe. 

“We were 100% prepared. All golfers were notified that if the bear started coming onto the golf course, that we would blast the air horn,” he said.  “The bear went the wrong direction, and we were very quickly able to clear off the old nine and keep everybody safe.” 

    Grizzly bears stirred up some chaos in Polson after taking a dive into Flathead Lake on Friday, Sept. 18. (Payton Adams/CSKT Wildlife Program)