Grizzly bear killed

The Daily Inter Lake

Tribal and state officials are searching for information about the illegal killing of a grizzly bear on the Flathead Indian Reservation.

Sometime late on Sept. 19, a grizzly bear was shot dead and its front claws were removed west of McDonald Lake near Hillside Road. The bear was estimated to be between 7 and 10 years old.

The Confederated Salish Kootenai Tribes are asking for public help in solving this crime. Anyone who has information is asked to call the Tribal Law Enforcement Offices at 406-675-4700 and leave a message for Mike McElderry.

It's been many years since a bear has been shot illegally on the Flathead Reservation, according to a press release from the tribes.

Dry conditions in the mountains and a lack of food are driving bears down to lower elevations. Shooting a grizzly bear on the Flathead Indian Reservation is a crime and comes with a fine up to $10,000 and a felony charge.

Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks also is investigating the grizzly poaching.

A $5,000 reward is being offered by Defenders of Wildlife for information that leads to the arrest and prosecution of those who shot the bear.

The tribes have established a 10,000-acre Grizzly Bear Conservation Area in the Mission Mountains Tribal Wilderness Area, with seasonal recreational closures for grizzly bear habitat security.