Teens illegally kill two Idaho grizzly bears in past year

HUNTING — In less than a year, teenagers in two separate incidents have killed protected grizzly bears in Idaho.

This is disturbing trend from a hunter-conservationist point of view.

Grizzly bears are protected under federal Endangered Species laws.

These were not self-defense situations.

The latest case:

California black-bear hunter mistakenly kills grizzly bear in Idaho
A 15-year-old boy from California shot and killed a 500-pound, nine-year-old male grizzly bear while black-bear hunting with his father near Island Park in Idaho. The pair reported the mistaken kill to Idaho wildlife officials, who issued a warning to the juvenile but charged the adult with taking and possessing a protected species. The carcass was confiscated by the state.

Last fall:

North Idaho juvenile in court for killing grizzly bear

A judge handed down a penalty for a North Idaho teenager who shot and killed a federally protected grizzly bear north of Wallace. The 14-year-old boy was charged with the unlawful killing of a grizzly, an endangered species, and hunting without a bear tag. Because he is a juvenile, his case is sealed and the penalty was not disclosed.

His father, Dan Tesky of Silverton, was fined $300 for setting bear bait too close to a house. In a plea agreement Friday, Tesky, 38, admitted guilt.