Grizzly had killed bull elk, farmer says
Bear shot after attack at Bugle Mountain Elk Farm
Thu., June 11, 2009
ROSE LAKE, Idaho – The grizzly bear that was shot near Rose Lake this week had killed an elk on the Bugle Mountain Elk Farm, said owner Dave Riley.
“It was kind of unusual because he attacked a mature bull elk with horns,” said Riley, who shot and killed the grizzly on Sunday night.
Riley said the bear crawled underneath an 8-foot fence to attack the elk on Saturday. When the bear returned for the elk carcass at about 11 p.m. on Sunday, Riley said he shot it, thinking it was a black bear.
Riley contacted the Idaho Department of Fish and Game when he realized that the bear was a federally protected grizzly. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is investigating the incident.
Idaho law allows property owners to kill predators, including black bears, that are attacking livestock. However, people are responsible for identifying their target to avoid killing grizzlies.
The grizzly was the first confirmed in the area for many decades.
Local journalism is essential.
Give directly to The Spokesman-Review's Northwest Passages community forums series -- which helps to offset the costs of several reporter and editor positions at the newspaper -- by using the easy options below. Gifts processed in this system are not tax deductible, but are predominately used to help meet the local financial requirements needed to receive national matching-grant funds.
Subscribe now to get breaking news alerts in your email inbox
Get breaking news delivered to your inbox as it happens.