Montana
Headless, pawless grizzly left in river by Montana wildlife officials stirs outrage – East Idaho News
GARDINER, Montana (Idaho Statesman) — The headless, pawless carcass of a beloved grizzly bear sits bloated in a Montana river near Yellowstone National Park — serving as a grisly reminder of how residents “failed” the bear, wildlife advocates say.
Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks staff shot and killed the food-conditioned bear in the Yellowstone River on July 18 after it broke into multiple homes almost every night for nearly two months, sometimes while residents were inside, McClatchy News previously reported.
Then wildlife officials cut off its head and paws and left the carcass there in the river. A gruesome photo of the carcass surfaced online early Monday, July 22, taken by a river guide who spotted it in the Yellowstone River near Gardiner, KBZK reported.
Many who saw the photo were upset, the station reported.
Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks spokesperson Morgan E. Jacobsen explained the decision to remove the head and paws from the carcass and leave the rest behind in the river. Wildlife officers shot the bear after it walked into the Yellowstone River, only minutes after it had broken into a house, Jacobsen told McClatchy News in an email.
“It was killed in the river because that location provided a safe opportunity for staff to do so, rather than staff attempting to shoot the bear in proximity to homes and people where the bear had been previously,” he said.
The carcass drifted down the river, under water and out of sight, Jacobsen said.
“When FWP staff recovered the carcass, it was in a location where it could not be removed from the river due to hazardous access and the bear’s size (500+ pounds),” he said. “FWP staff removed the head and the paws in compliance with requirements from the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service to remove any parts of potential monetary value.”
Because grizzlies are listed as an endangered species in the lower 48 states of the U.S., it’s illegal to traffic grizzly bear parts, Cowboy State Daily reported.
“Grizzly skulls and claws can be hot commodities in the illegal wildlife trade,” the outlet reported.
The agency had to kill another grizzly years before in roughly the same area, “and somebody got to the carcass before we could and took the head and paws,” Jacobsen told the outlet. “We didn’t want that to happen again.”
The agency will leave the carcass where it is — visible to people enjoying the river.
“Animal carcasses are common in wild places and are consumed by other wildlife,” Jacobsen told McClatchy News. “However, this is an unfortunate outcome for the bear. Residents, businesses and visitors can help reduce hazards and conflicts with wildlife and prevent the need to remove habituated animals by keeping attractants secured.”
That’s something one of the bear’s biggest fans, wildlife photographer Deby Dixon, will fiercely advocate for.
Dixon shared a long and heartfelt tribute to the bear she had grown to know and love after following Grizzly 769, nicknamed the Blacktail Lakes Bear, for over a decade.
“We failed this grizzly bear,” Dixon wrote in the July 24 post on Facebook.
“With great sadness, I say goodbye to grizzly bear 769, the Blacktail Lakes bear,” Dixon wrote. “I photographed this male grizzly at the Blacktail Lakes and around the park for about 10 years, right beside many other photographers and hundreds of visitors who were seeing their first grizzly bear in the wild.”
Dixon shared a photo she’d taken of the massive grizzly in the snow.
“Living in bear country is hard because it requires more diligence with food attractants than in other places,” she said. “But, anyone moving into areas around Yellowstone National Park knows, or should know, that there are grizzly bears in the area and they don’t stop at the invisible park boundary.”
As long as food rewards, including garbage and apples, are secured properly, “the bears will go away,” she added.
Dixon said she hopes “the next bear does not get any food and is not eventually killed while crossing the Yellowstone River.”
“I also feel the grief, pure sadness, that many feel knowing that 769 is now in the Yellowstone River, blown up by death and without head and paws, reminding rafters and fishermen of our failures to this bear,” she said. “ … Grizzly bear 769, you gave us so much over the years and in the end, we let you down. I will miss you at the Blacktail Lakes every spring – your burst of energy as you ran down the hill for the first time and scouted the waters for the food that was beneath the surface. Many of us will miss you.”
Several of the bear’s fans thanked Dixon for the eulogy and shared their own memories of Grizzly 769 in the comments.
“What an amazing bear he was!” someone said. “It’s so very sad his ending had to be so tragic. We can all learn something from this story and I do hope people who live in bear country take heed.”
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Indiana football continued its reload in the secondary on Sunday with the commitment of Montana State transfer cornerback Carson Williams.
Standing at 6-foot-1 and 165 pounds, Williams made his commitment to head coach Curt Cignetti and the Hoosiers after a weekend visit to Indiana. Williams has three years of eligibility remaining.
MORE: Transfer Portal Thread | Indiana football transfer portal tracker | Indiana football’s transfer portal wish list: A position-by-position breakdown of 2026 needs
Williams, who hails from Houston, Texas, amassed 46 total tackles, eight pass breakups and 2.5 tackles for loss in 2025 with the Bobcats. He also forced and recovered a fumble this past season.
The 2025 season was Williams’ second at the college level after he redshirted in 2024 as a true freshman.
Entering this portal cycle, cornerback was a large question mark for the Hoosiers. D’Angelo Ponds could potentially leave early for the NFL Draft and depth corner Amariyun Knighten has already entered the portal, but outside of those two, Indiana returns everyone else at cornerback.
Williams now joins a 2026 cornerback room that features returners Jamari Sharpe, Ryland Gandy and Jaylen Bell, while Ponds’ decision on his future is expected to come following Indiana’s run in the College Football Playoff.
Williams is rated as the No. 795 overall transfer and the No. 91-ranked cornerback in the portal.
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The Montana Lottery offers multiple draw games for those aiming to win big. Here’s a look at Jan. 10, 2026, results for each game:
Winning Powerball numbers from Jan. 10 drawing
05-19-21-28-64, Powerball: 14, Power Play: 3
Check Powerball payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Lucky For Life numbers from Jan. 10 drawing
17-24-36-38-43, Lucky Ball: 17
Check Lucky For Life payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Lotto America numbers from Jan. 10 drawing
06-15-20-22-25, Star Ball: 10, ASB: 02
Check Lotto America payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Big Sky Bonus numbers from Jan. 10 drawing
03-07-20-23, Bonus: 13
Check Big Sky Bonus payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Powerball Double Play numbers from Jan. 10 drawing
10-19-39-47-67, Powerball: 18
Check Powerball Double Play payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Montana Cash numbers from Jan. 10 drawing
06-12-17-18-25
Check Montana Cash payouts and previous drawings here.
Feeling lucky? Explore the latest lottery news & results
When are the Montana Lottery drawings held?
- Powerball: 8:59 p.m. MT on Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday.
- Mega Millions: 9 p.m. MT on Tuesday and Friday.
- Lucky For Life: 8:38 p.m. MT daily.
- Lotto America: 9 p.m. MT on Monday, Wednesday and Saturday.
- Big Sky Bonus: 7:30 p.m. MT daily.
- Powerball Double Play: 8:59 p.m. MT on Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday.
- Montana Cash: 8 p.m. MT on Wednesday and Saturday.
Missed a draw? Peek at the past week’s winning numbers.
Winning lottery numbers are sponsored by Jackpocket, the official digital lottery courier of the USA TODAY Network.
Where can you buy lottery tickets?
Tickets can be purchased in person at gas stations, convenience stores and grocery stores. Some airport terminals may also sell lottery tickets.
You can also order tickets online through Jackpocket, the official digital lottery courier of the USA TODAY Network, in these U.S. states and territories: Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Idaho, Maine, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Oregon, Puerto Rico, Washington D.C., and West Virginia. The Jackpocket app allows you to pick your lottery game and numbers, place your order, see your ticket and collect your winnings all using your phone or home computer.
Jackpocket is the official digital lottery courier of the USA TODAY Network. Gannett may earn revenue for audience referrals to Jackpocket services. GAMBLING PROBLEM? CALL 1-800-GAMBLER, Call 877-8-HOPENY/text HOPENY (467369) (NY). 18+ (19+ in NE, 21+ in AZ). Physically present where Jackpocket operates. Jackpocket is not affiliated with any State Lottery. Eligibility Restrictions apply. Void where prohibited. Terms: jackpocket.com/tos.
This results page was generated automatically using information from TinBu and a template written and reviewed by a Great Falls Tribune editor. You can send feedback using this form.
The French owner of the Swiss bar where 40 people died in a fire during new year celebrations has told investigators a service door had been locked from the inside.
Jacques Moretti, co-owner of the Constellation bar in the Swiss resort of Crans-Montana, was taken into custody on Friday, as prosecutors investigated the tragedy.
Most of the 40 people who died were teenagers, and another 116 people were injured.
Moretti told the Valais public prosecutor’s office that he had found out about the locked door just after the deadly fire.
When he arrived at the scene, he forced open the door, according to excerpts from police reports published by several French and Swiss media outlets confirmed to AFP by a source close to the case.
Moretti said he had found several people lying behind the door after opening it.
Initial findings suggest the fire was caused by sparklers coming into contact with soundproofing foam installed on the ceiling of the establishment’s basement.
Questions are also being raised regarding the presence and accessibility of fire extinguishers, and whether the bar’s exits were in compliance with regulations.
No safety inspections at site of Swiss bar fire for past five years, mayor says
“We always add a sparkler candle when we serve a bottle of wine in the dining room,” said his wife and co-owner, Jessica, who was released after Friday’s hearing.
Moretti told investigators he had carried out tests and the candles were not powerful enough to ignite the acoustic foam.
He said he bought the foam in a DIY store and installed it himself during renovations carried out after buying the establishment in 2015.
Regarding the presence of numerous underage kids in the bar at the time of the tragedy, Moretti said the establishment prohibited anyone under the age of 16 and that customers aged 16 to 18 had to be accompanied by an adult.
He said he had given these “instructions” to the security staff, but acknowledged that “it is possible that there was a lapse in protocol”.
The couple is suspected of “negligent homicide, negligent bodily harm, and negligent arson”.
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