July 15, 1998 article relates how "Back-porch bear leaves homeowner shaken by JANE RIDER of the Missoulian.
Kevin McKibbege Wasn't cited for killing the nearly 300 pound animal although a game warden said the bear probably was attracted to the porch by a fish smoker and bags of animal feed.
Kevin McKibbege said be was preparing for a fishing trip Monday when he opened his door to retrieve a cooler from his porch shortly before 1:00 am and his dog encountered the big bear just a few feet away.
To McKibbege's surprise, the bear was far less startled by the encounter and began to chase and lunge at the German shorthair pointer.
McKibbege managed to grab the dog and retreat into the house, but the bear remained on the porch and began tearing into a fish smoker and bags of chicken feed and dog food.
"I realized this was the biggest bear I'd ever seen," he said.
McKibbege, who grew up in International Falls, Minn., and has seen many of the animals. "Tins was the most terrifying experience I've ever had. He was on the porch near the doorway into the house."
McKibbege, who lives on Hamilton's west side and whose Property abuts national forest,, said he then tried to scare the animal off by banging pans and making loud noise. It didn't work.
Next McKibbege fetched his 22-caliber rifle and shot over the top of the bear'. head Still, the critter remained and appeared increasingly curious about what was inside the house. After 15 minutes of trying to scare it off, Mckibbege said he got his l2 gauge shotgun and shot the animal in the upper chest. To McKlbbege's amazement, the bear fell off the back of the two-story porch, regained its composure and bounded off into the woods.
McKibbege called a close neighbor and the pair agreed to follow the blood trail at first light. About 30 minutes into their walk Into the woods, McKibbbege and the bear were again nearly face to face.
"He exploded from a thicket about 10 yards from me in heavy brush. I shot twice to finish him off," McKibbege said.
When McKibbege rolled the big animal over, he discovered an arrow tip remained lodged in its chest. McKibeege said he suspects the wound might explain the bear's unsavory disposition.
"It was sick...I've seen and been around bears most of my life. This wasn't the common reaction one gets from black bears. Something was wrong here and it didn't leave us with much of a choice," McKibbege said.
Ron Jendro, a game warden with Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks, said he investigated the case on Monday and found the bear's injuries and evidence at the house to be Consistent with McKibbege's tale.
Jendro said MCKibbege did everything he was supposed to do, except Jendro would have preferred that he hadn't shot the bear;
"We'd rather have a person stay in the house and give us a call, even if it is late, and we'll come out right away to take care of it," said Jendro, who lives in Hamilton.
MCKibbcge wasn't cited because the bear was threatening him and he needed to protect himself.
Jendro agreed the arrow wound might have made the bear more irritable, but he expected the bear would have survived the injury. More than likely, the bear was attracted to McKihbege's property because of the fish smoker and the feed left outside, he said.
"We have this problem year in and year out. Those are the kind of things that attract bears"' he said.
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