Authorities Investigate Bear Shootings

Federal officials are investigating a grizzly bear shooting earlier this week in southwestern Montana.

The grizzly was shot and killed in a remote area south of the Ruby Reservoir on Monday, the same day a female black bear was killed by a hunter near Silver Star.

Federal officials investigate all killings of grizzly bears because they are listed as a threatened species. State wildlife officials declined to provide details of the grizzly shooting pending the investigation.

Authorities determined the hunter who shot the black bear acted defensively. He reported the bear's cubs were in a tree and that she charged him.

A Fish, Wildlife and Parks official told The Montana Standard (http://bit.ly/1pcgxAM ) the cubs are old enough to survive on their own.