Report: Famous Yellowstone bear shot at close range in 2015

BILLINGS – The investigation into the death of a famed Yellowstone National Park grizzly bear killed by an elk hunter in late 2015 determined that the bear was shot three times at close range with a .30 caliber rifle.

The bear known to admirers as Scarface was killed near Gardiner, Montana, outside Yellowstone at night.

No charges were filed against the unidentified hunter.

The Billings Gazette reported documents from the investigation were obtained recently by two Montana women through the Freedom of Information Act. One of the women, Kat Brekken, is with the National Wolfwatcher Coalition.

Brekken contends that Scarface’s death could have been avoided if the hunter had been carrying bear spray and had practiced common sense.

The hunter told the investigators he wouldn’t have done anything differently.