Wildlife officials in Montana are investigating how the remains of a grizzly bear found last month was then decapitated and declawed.
According to USA Today and the Washington Post, the remains of the bear were found by Montana Fish, Wildlife, and Park officials on June 10 after being washed ashore from the Yellowstone River north of Gardiner, Montana.
USA Today reported that officials had planned to remove the bear's remains by boat or helicopter on June 11, but someone had removed its head and claws when they returned the next day
Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks' senior grizzly specialist Kevin Frey told the Mountain Journal that removing parts of a grizzly bear, a federally protected animal, violates the Endangered Species Act.
The 25-year-old male bear was a known Yellowstone National Park resident, having been captured and tagged with the number 394, according to a Billings news source.
