House Ag committee passes bill to add black bears to Montana Livestock Loss Board

The Montana House Agriculture Committee voted 17-0 to pass House Bill 356, which would add black bears to the list of species eligible for compensation and mitigation funding through the Montana Livestock Loss Board.

Sponsor Representative Eric Tillman, House District 23, introduced the bill, saying, “Were adding black bears to the livestock loss board.” The measure would allow livestock owners to file claims for verified depredation by black bears and would make black bears eligible for the boards grant funding for prevention projects such as electric fencing.

The bill drew unified support from livestock and conservation groups. Merrill Mckamey, a fourth-generation Cascade County rancher and ranch manager, told the committee that black bear predation is…