Wildlife officials investigating grizzly bear shooting death

MISSOULA – State and federal wildlife officials are investigating after a black bear hunter reported shooting a grizzly bear about 5 miles northeast of Missoula.

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service spokesman Ryan Moehring says the bear was killed on May 16 north of Bonner.

Moehring says the Fish and Wildlife Service and Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks officials are investigating and will make more information public when they can. He told the Missoulian on Tuesday it was U.S. Department of Justice policy not to comment on ongoing investigations. He did not release the age or sex of the dead bear.

Grizzly bears are a protected species under the Endangered Species Act.

Andy Lennox, who lives a mile north of Bonner, said he was upset to have heard about the shooting second hand.