Grizzly bear deaths investigated

A grizzly bear found dead near the Middle Fork of the Flathead River has local wildlife officials seeking more information.

The carcass of the female grizzly was found May 20 in the Paola Creek area. It was transported to a Fish, Wildlife and Parks lab in Bozeman where it was determined the bear had been shot.

There was evidence of other bears at the site and a remote camera photographed two 15-month-old grizzly bears that were orphaned due to the death of the adult female.

FWP decided to leave the yearling bears in the wild.

Anyone with any information can call 1-800-TIP MONT. Callers do not have to identify themselves and a reward of up to $2,000 may be available for information leading to a conviction.

The shot grizzly is just one incident in a series of grizzlies found dead this month in northwest Montana.

On May 24, a male grizzly bear was found dead at the Yaak Falls Campground near Troy on the Kootenai National Forest.

The investigation is on-going and FWP had little information on the incident.

On May 16, a Wisconsin black bear hunter mistakenly shot a male grizzly bear near Spotted Bear.

The hunter, Richard Kutcher, told officials he thought the animal was a black bear when he shot, according to a FWP news release. The grizzly was shot in the area of the Wilderness Lodge where he was staying.

Kutcher reported the incident and gave a detailed account of what happened, FWP said.

He appeared in Flathead County Justice Court and pleaded guilty to the charge. He was fined $235 and ordered to pay $2,000 in restitution as mandated by state law.