May 18, 2000 KPAX TV Evening news: Grizzly bear sow and cubs killed.
CAG Comment
Killing grizzly bears is not the way to turn ill advised activities by the federal government around.
Getting involved and making your position known to your congressmen, to your friends and neighbors and demanding the National Democratic and Republican parties make there number one priority the screening of candidates they offer as potential public servants.
End CAG Comment
Three grizzly bears are dead and wildlife managers say the
killings were intentional.
On May 5th, a mother and her two cubs were found dead on the Blackfeet Reservation. When
you think about the fact that there are only 80 bears in the Rocky Mountain Front, even
one death is a huge blow.
For over 20 years, hunting grizzlies has been a federal offense. Yet each year, more and
more grizzlies are killed.
Is it a mistake hunters are making or are these killings a malicious act? How are you to
know who did it and why? Chris Savheen of Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks says, "In
this case the killings were malicious. You don't just kill a family of bears... It's just
malicious destruction."
Chuck Jonkel of the Great Bear Foundation says, ""It's quite inexcusable. And
every year it happens, but you can't pin anyone for it."" However, Jonkel also
believes many of the grizzly killings are purely accidental. He says, ""Because
accidents happen. And a lot of times it's the hunters fault, partly the conditions. But
all too often they are hunting too early in the morning or too late in the evening and
can't see the variations of color. They shoot it, get up to it and gosh it's a
grizzly."" Although, he says, accidents shouldn't happen if hunters are acting
responsibly.
Either way, both say there is no excuse.
It does seem in this case that the killings were most likely malicious acts, since hunters
do not usually kill an entire family unit.
Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks says losing these three bears will have a great impact on the grizzly population in our region.
Both federal and state officials are offering a reward for information leading to the
arrest and conviction of the responsible parties.
Again, the three bears were found on May 5th on the Blackfeet Indian Reservation. One of
the bears was a 14 year old mother. She was found dead with her two small cubs by her
side, also dead.
The reward money is $2,500. Please call 1-800-TIP-MONT with any information. Your call
will be completely confidential.
Killing a grizzly carries the possibility of a $10,000 fine and six months in prison.