Latest news with #CitizensAgainstPoaching
Yahoo
13-05-2025
- Yahoo
Idaho Hunter Self-Reports Bear Identification Error After Mistaking a Black Bear for a Grizzly
A hunter in Bonner County, Idaho, mistakenly shot and killed a grizzly bear, which they mistook for a black bear while legally hunting on Friday, according to a statement by the Idaho Department of Fish and Game. The incident occurred in the Idaho Panhandle's Priest Lake drainage. Upon correctly identifying the bear as a grizzly at the scene, the hunter reported the error via IDFG's Citizens Against Poaching hotline. IDFG said the hunter is fully cooperating with the ongoing investigation, which is standard procedure in this situation. Black bears are common across Idaho, with as many as 30,000 roaming the state. Grizzlies are much less common, with up to 100 living in northern Idaho, according to the U.S. Forest Service. The hunter's mistake is also example of the importance of accurate bear identification in the field, particularly in areas where black bear and grizzly habitats overlap, such as Idaho's Panhandle, the Upper Snake Region, and areas surrounding Yellowstone National Park. Grizzly bears are protected as threatened under federal and state laws, and hunters are responsible for correctly identifying their targets before they pull the trigger. A new law that took effect on Jan. 1 requires hunters pursuing Idaho black bears to pass a bear identification test. Beyond the mandatory test, hunters are also encouraged to regularly review basic bear ID to avoid cases of mistaken identity. Read Next: Shed Hunter Kills Charging Grizzly with a Handgun in Montana Because North American bears in various life stages vary widely in size and color, neither is a dependable method for accurately identifying species. For instance, black bears can sometimes take on a color phase that makes them appear blonder — a coat similar to many grizzlies. Instead, hunters should use a combination of physical traits, including ear shape, facial profile, and body structure. Shoulder Hump: Grizzlies have well-developed shoulder muscles they use for digging and foraging. These strong muscles create a prominent shoulder hump that black bears lack. Facial Features: When turned to the side, grizzlies appear to have a dished area between the eyes and the snout. In contrast, black bears have long, straight profiles. When viewed from the front, a grizzly's face is broad while a black bear's is narrower. Ears: Grizzly bears have short, rounded ears. Black bear ears are taller and more pointed. Claws: Grizzly bears have much longer claws than their black bear cousins. Grizzly claws are at least 2 inches long, but can grow to as long as 4 inches. Black bears have shorter claws (generally less than 2 inches) that are more curved and better suited for climbing trees.
Yahoo
13-05-2025
- Yahoo
Hunter kills grizzly bear in North Idaho
May 12—A hunter shot and killed a female grizzly bear in North Idaho Friday evening after mistaking it for a black bear. The hunter killed the grizzly in the Priest Lake drainage and immediately self-reported the killing using the Citizens Against Poaching hotline, according to a news release from the Idaho Department of Fish and Game. Grizzlies in the Lower 48 are protected as threatened under the Endangered Species Act. An investigation into the killing is ongoing, and the hunter is cooperating, according to Fish and Game. The killing comes in the first season since Idaho began requiring black bear hunters to pass a bear identification test to help them differentiate between the two species. The requirement, which had already been in place in other states, went into effect on Jan. 1. TJ Ross, a Fish and Game spokesman, said the hunter had taken the bear identification test. Ross did not have more information about where the bear was killed. He also said there wouldn't be a decision on whether the person gets cited until the investigation is over, but that the agency appreciates that the hunter self-reported. "People make mistakes, and we understand that," Ross said. "We always appreciate when folks are forthcoming and self-report. It makes the whole process much easier." It's the third consecutive year that a black bear hunter has mistakenly killed a grizzly in North Idaho. Last June, a hunter shot a grizzly near St. Maries after consulting with Idaho Fish and Game about whether the bear — which he'd seen on a trail camera — was a grizzly or black bear. Fish and Game officials had assured him it was a black bear. A year earlier, a hunter killed a grizzly north of Priest Lake. That hunter was issued a citation. In the release, Fish and Game officials said black bear hunters need to be aware that they could encounter protected grizzlies in the upper Snake River drainage and in the Panhandle, and that they should not rely solely on size and color to differentiate between the two species. North Idaho is home to between 70 and 100 grizzlies from small populations in the Selkirk and Cabinet mountains, according to a Fish and Game document.
