Idaho Fish and Game determined that two hunters who killed a grizzly bear west of Troy, Montana did so in self-defense.

A report came in on June 8 that two hunters had just harvested a black bear in the Ruby Creek drainage, west of Troy, Montana, and south of Bonners Ferry, Idaho. As the hunters worked toward retrieving the harvested black bear, a grizzly bear appeared out of the dense brush and began approaching them. The hunters backed away from the grizzly bear and began yelling at it, but it continued undeterred.

As the grizzly bear continued approaching the hunters, one of the hunters discharged his firearm at close range, killing the bear. The bear was a sub-adult male.  Neither hunter was injured during the encounter. After the incident, one of the hunters reported the event to Boundary County dispatch, who then routed the information to local IDFG conservation officers. Fish and Game officers then responded to the scene with the hunters, completed their investigation and recovered the bear carcass.  The investigation determined the bear was killed in self-defense, according to a press release from the agency.

Grizzly bears are protected under Idaho and federal laws.