When a grizzly bear is shot by a hunter, because it is still listed as an endangered species, there is an investigation. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks and sometimes Forest Service law enforcement officials are involved, and no information is given to the public. So it was interesting to read the documents released after two Gardiner residents requested the details via the Freedom of Information Act for the 2015 shooting of a bear known in Yellowstone National Park as Scarface, because of his scars from fighting other bears. Scarface was shot by an elk hunter who encountered the bear on a trail just outside Yellowstone near Gardiner. The hunter was alone, not making noise, hiking in the dark and not carrying bear spray. In other words, he was being pretty stupid in known bear country.
(Written by Brett French – Outdoors Editor for the Billings Gazette)
