Rancher shoots bear in pantry

GREAT FALLS, Mont. — A Montana rancher shot and killed a black bear that broke into his house along the Rocky Mountain Front and raided the pantry.

Lane Yeager told the Great Falls Tribune he returned home near Choteau at about 9 p.m. Monday when he saw a bear run in front of him as he went to turn on the lights.

The bear broke through a screen and entered an open window, wrecked a Lazy Susan and tore off a door to get to the trash. It also ate peanut butter and flour.

Fish, Wildlife and Parks grizzly bear management specialist Mike Madel says the bear had probably been in the house for an hour.

Madel says Yeager had the right to shoot the bear to protect himself and his property.