No sign found of wounded grizzly

The Daily Inter Lake

Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks wardens have searched unsuccessfully for a grizzly bear that a hunter reported shooting in self-defense on the Whitefish Divide last week.

Fish, Wildlife and Parks public affairs officer John Fraley said a father and son from the Kalispell area were hunting deer Nov. 24 on Stryker Ridge when they encountered a grizzly bear with two cubs.

The man told wardens the sow bear charged and he fired in self-defense, Fraley said.

The shot apparently stopped the charge, allowing the man and his son to retreat without determining whether the bear had been wounded or killed.

After the man reported the incident, warden Matt Heaton patrolled the area that same day, but he was unable to find any trace of the bears.

On Saturday, grizzly bear management specialist Tim Manley surveyed the area from a helicopter and was unable to see any sign of the bears. Heaton returned to the area for another foot search on Monday.

"They never could find a track," Fraley said. "I think if the bullet made contact there would have been blood, and it would have been visible with that much continuous snow cover."

Because no wounded or dead animal was located, Fraley said, "we're just considering it a closed case."

Grizzly bears are protected under the Endangered Species Act.

"This points out that you can encounter a grizzly bear any time and anywhere in Northwest Montana," Fraley said. "And it also points out the importance of pepper spray" as a nonlethal means of protection.