MONTANA

Young Grizzly bear found shot along road west of Conrad

David Murray, Great Falls Tribune
Sat, June 24, 2023

Federal and state investigators are asking the public to provide any information they might have on the deadly shooting of Grizzly bear cub west of Conrad two weeks ago.

"The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) and Montana Fish Wildlife & Parks (MFWP) game wardens and are seeking information on a grizzly bear cub that was shot and killed along East Lake Road near New Miami Colony west of Conrad, in Pondera County," a joint news release states.

The red pin marks the approximate location where the corpse of a Grizzly bear cub was found shot to death on June 7; along East Lake Road west of Conrad, south of Valier along the East Lake Road. Federal and state wildlife investigators are asking the public to help in the investigation

The body of the immature bear was first discovered on June 7 near East Lake Road; however it could have been shot as much as three days earlier. Federal wildlife officials investigated the scene with the assistance of MFWP game wardens and determined the bear was killed sometime after June 4.

Current Montana law states that it’s legal to kill or attempt to kill a grizzly bear in self-defense, or if the bear is “in the act of attacking or killing” or “threatening to kill” people or livestock. Biologists estimate there are approximately 1,100 Grizzly bears currently living in the Northern Continental Divide Ecosystem along both sides of Montana's Rocky Mountain Front.

Both state and federal wildlife enforcement officials declined to provide any additional information regarding the shooting, but are asking anyone with knowledge of the shooting to contact

"Wildlife crimes like this one are often solved because of information and leads provided by the public," a MFWP news release states. "Anyone with possible information about this bear is encouraged to visit https://myfwp.mt.gov/fwpPub/tipmont or call the MFWP violation reporting hot line at 1-800-TIP-MONT (847-6668). Callers can remain anonymous and may be eligible for a cash reward for information leading to a conviction."

This article originally appeared on Great Falls Tribune: Wildlife officials seek public help in Grizzly cub shooting.