A federal investigation has been launched after two grizzly bears were killed by black bear hunters last week near Great Falls, Montana.
Grizzly bears are federally protected and the investigation is being conducted by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, in cooperation with Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks.
Neither agency is offering specific details, pending results of the investigation.
However, Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks (FWP) issued a news release stating that the hunters killed one male and one female grizzly bear during the black bear season. No cubs were found.
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Montana’s spring black bear hunting season ended May 31 in some regions, but continues through June 15 in other regions.
It remains unclear whether the hunters thought they were shooting at black bears, but “correct identification is critical,” FWP stated.
In Montana, hunters must pass a test to make sure they can tell the difference between the two species before they are issued hunting tags. The test consists of 15 multiple-choice questions and hunters must answer at least 12 correctly to receive a certificate of completion.
FWP noted that color and size are not clear indications. Black bears are sometimes lighter in color, and grizzly bears can look black. Grizzly bears are sometimes smaller than adult black bears.
“Grizzly bears are expanding into more places in Montana, and we are also heading outdoors in higher numbers right now, which means it is more important than ever to review bear safety and identification tips,” FWP cautioned.
–Grizzly bear images (top two) are via Wikipedia; black bear image is courtesy of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service