Black bear abandons hibernation spot under cabin

[May 09, 2012]  PHILIPSBURG, Mont. (AP) -- A 200-pound black bear that swiped some blankets and pillows from a western Montana cabin to line his makeshift den in the cabin's crawl space has moved on.

Cabin owner Judy Wing of Missoula tells The Montana Standard (http://bit.ly/JbQpNG) that now that the bear, dubbed Blue, has awakened, she's going to bear-proof the seasonal cabin on Georgetown Lake.

Wing's family discovered the bear, and the missing pillows, comforters and homemade blankets on a Jan. 1 visit. They nailed shut a hatch in the floor and covered the outside opening with brush to keep the bear warm and hidden.

Fish, Wildlife and Parks game warden Terry Althaus says the bear stuck around until early April.

Wing plans to meet with wildlife officials this weekend to go over ways she can secure the cabin.

[Associated Press]

Copyright 2012 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.