A 400-pound grizzly bear was observed entering the Bozeman Costco on North 19th Avenue Saturday morning, pausing briefly at the membership desk before proceeding directly to the seafood section.

“He walked right up to the counter, stood on his hind legs, and just sort of stared at the associate for about thirty seconds,” said witness and fellow shopper Brenda Kowalski, 43, of Belgrade. “Then he grabbed a sample of the rotisserie chicken and left.”

Store manager Dale Futterman confirmed the incident but downplayed its significance. “This is maybe the fourth time this season,” Futterman told The Bee. “Honestly, he’s more polite than most of our Saturday crowd. He’s never once double-parked a flatbed cart.”

According to Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks, the bear — designated GB-247 by researchers and “Big Craig” by Costco employees — has been frequenting the retail corridor along North 19th since late October, when natural food sources began declining.

“We’ve been monitoring the situation,” said FWP spokesperson Linda Elkhart. “At this point, GB-247 has not displayed aggressive behavior. He mostly just stands in the tire center looking confused. We can all relate.”

The bear reportedly left the store at approximately 11:15 AM, carrying what witnesses described as a 3-pound bag of trail mix and “an overwhelming sense of purpose.”

Costco corporate declined to comment on whether the bear’s membership application would be processed, citing privacy concerns. However, an internal memo obtained by The Bee reads: “Please do not offer samples to the bear. He does not have a membership card and this is getting out of hand.”

Big Craig was last seen heading east on Oak Street, trail mix in tow, moving with what one observer called “the quiet confidence of someone who knows exactly where they’re going,” despite the fact that Oak Street dead-ends at a residential cul-de-sac.