Tips sought on grizzly shooting near St. Ignatius

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes are offering up to $4,000 for information on the shooting of a sow grizzly bear and one of her cubs in the Millie’s Woods area approximately 8 miles north of St. Ignatius.

Millie’s Woods is located south of Post Creek.

On Labor Day, Sept. 5, tribal wildlife officers trapped two cubs after they were spotted alone calling for their mother. One of the cubs was found to have been shot.

After a two-week search, the sow grizzly was located Sept. 20 after she was spotted on a game camera in poor condition.

Tribal biologists euthanized the mother due to the extent of her injuries. A necropsy by the Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks lab in Bozeman revealed that she had also been shot.

The cubs are being cared for by the Montana Wildlife Center in Helena, where they are awaiting placement.

The federal and tribal wildlife agencies are asking for anyone with information on this case to call the 406-329-3000 or the tribes’ chief conservation officer, Pablo Espinoza, at 406-675-4700.

Callers do not have to identify themselves and a reward of up to $4,000 may be available for information leading to a conviction.