Hunter accidentally kills griz

A hunter accidentally shot and killed a grizzly bear that he misidentified as a black bear in the Bear Creek drainage south of Libby on Nov. 13.

The hunter turned himself in to Fish, Wildlife and Parks officials. He was fully cooperative and took FWP personnel to the bear. FWP warden Phil Kilbreath and human-bear conflict specialist Kim Annis identified the bear as a collared male grizzly.

The hunter told Kilbreath he followed a set of bear tracks over a hill and saw a dark colored bear in the timber. He said he thought it was a black bear, so he shot it.

The hunter pled guilty in Lincoln County Justice court to hunting during a closed season. He received a $735 fine and 30 hours of community service.

All black bear hunters should refer to literature available at all FWP offices for practice in distinguishing between black and grizzly bears. Hunters can also log on to http://fwp.mt.gov/education/hunter/bearID and study the Bear Identification Program.