BUTTE – Wildlife officials have finally managed to corral the two black bear cubs that have been wandering through Butte for the past two days into a tree in the middle of Montana Tech’s campus.

Unfortunately, they had to shoot the boys’ mother. This decision was very disturbing for many people.

“It just really sucks. I mean, I didn’t hear of her bothering anyone, so I think they should have waited a little bit before killing her. She has the babies and it would have been nice if she had survived,” said Butte resident Topanga Sturdevant.

The black bear and her two cubs were first spotted rummaging through trash on the west side of Butte on Tuesday, August 27.

Officials with Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks eventually shot the bear on the Montana Tech campus around 2:40 a.m. Wednesday. Police reported the bear was shot twice with a tranquilizer, but it had no effect.

“I mean, it’s sad that the mom died, but hopefully they can protect the babies,” said Montana Tech student Nadia Crawford.

MTN News

The cubs were found in a tree on campus. FWP officers, with the assistance of Campus Security, erected a fence around the tree to prevent the cubs from leaving the area. Baited traps were set to capture the cubs.

All this happened during the first week of the fall semester, so the boys caught the attention of many people on campus.

“I was sitting in class and I was like, ‘There’s a bear, guys.’ And all my friends were looking at me and thinking, ‘That’s a momma with cubs!’ Dude, oh man, this could be really good or really bad,” said student Skyler Fox.

(1ST REPORT, 27 AUGUST) A black bear and her two cubs were spotted in the area south of Park Street and west of Excelsior Street in Butte on Tuesday, August 27, 2024.

Since Tuesday afternoon, Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks had set up bait traps to catch the bears and then move them out of town.

Butte-Silver Bow Law Enforcement said the boys were last seen in the area of ​​West Elementary School and the sow was last seen in the area of ​​Steel Street and Montrose.

Mother bear and cubs wander around Uptown Butte

The bears apparently fed on garbage cans in the area.

MTN reporter John Emeigh followed the story and captured video of the trio (see above).