NEWS
Grizzly euthanized in Boundary County
The bear killed seven sheep after being relocated to the Cabinet Mountains last summer
By Lyndsie Kiebert Reader Staff A grizzly bear was euthanized over the weekend in Boundary County after killing seven sheep in a matter of just a few days. IFG said in an announcement Monday that officers responded to a report on May 29 that five sheep had been killed overnight. A report on May 30 said two more had been killed just eight miles south of the first report. A GPS collar IFG placed on the bear in 2018 confirmed he was responsible for the killings. IFG euthanized the bear on June 1 in Copeland — about 18 miles north of Bonners Ferry — in a joint effort with U.S. Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. “Officers credit citizens’ timely reporting of the incidents with their ability to quickly respond to the bear and avoid additional conflicts with livestock
producers and area residents,” IFG said. This is not the young, 240-pound grizzly’s first run-in with trouble. In August 2018, IFG trapped the bear after he’d been found raiding chicken coops and chasing sheep near Garwood. They relocated him to the Cabinet Mountains on the Idaho-Montana border, and fixed him with the GPS collar which ultimately led to his confirmed location at the sheep killings near Copeland. Grizzly bears are not uncommon in northern Boundary County, according to IFG, which estimates there are 70-80 grizzly bears living in the nearby Selkirk Grizzly Bear Recovery Zone, which covers parts of Idaho, Washington and British Columbia. However, IFG reports the last known incident of a grizzly harassing and killing livestock in the area was over five years ago. As the full swing of summer approaches and more and more people pour into the mountains
of North Idaho, bear encounters become increasingly likely. The National Park Service offers helpful bear safety tips at its website, nps.gov. Highlights of those tips include hiking in groups rather than alone so bears are more likely to hear or smell you, and speaking to the bear calmly and waving your arms
slowly in the case of an encounter. Never drop your pack during an encounter, as it will allow the bear to access your food and be prompted further to pursue you. A pack can also be a form of protection should a bear attack you — if a grizzly or brown bear attacks, play dead on your stomach, the NPS suggests. If
The grizzly spotted near Athol in 2018. Photo courtesy of Dylan May. attacked by a black bear, fight back. NPS also strongly recommends leaving dogs at home when hiking in known bear country, stating plainly: “Bears and pets don’t mix.”
Missing boy who prompted Nixle alert found safe Pete Thompson, Sandpoint publisher, dies at 89 By Lyndsie Kiebert Reader Staff A 12-year-old Bonner County boy went missing Tuesday, prompting a search and rescue effort that ultimately found the boy not far from his home. The Bonner County Sheriff’s Office said Caden Riffel went missing from his Selle Road residence between 7 and 9:30 a.m., according to his father. Riffel was first reported to BCSO by a man who said Riffel showed up at his doorstep claiming his father had dropped him off in the woods and “didn’t want him anymore,” said Captain Tim Hemphill. When the man left the boy alone for a moment to get him some water, Riffel disappeared. Soon after, BCSO received a call from Riffel’s father that the boy had wandered away from his home while his parents were sleeping. BCSO then issued Nixle alerts at 12:41 p.m. and 1 p.m. providing details on Riffel’s appearance and notifying anyone who saw him to call 911.
Hemphill said BCSO activated Bonner County’s Volunteer Search and Rescue after several hours had passed and tips from the community didn’t lead to Riffel. Ultimately, a search-and-rescue member found Riffel about 300 yards southeast of his home, and he appeared to be walking in that direction. BCSO issued a final alert at 6:58 p.m.: “Missing 12 year old child, Caden, has been located, thanks to all who helped with the search and tips!” Helphill said it isn’t clear why Riffel wandered away from his home Tuesday. He said BCSO has offered to follow up with the family to see if there’s anything more they can do. “Nothing seems to be jumping to light immediately,” Hemphill said, noting Riffel’s relaxed attitude when he was found and the fact that he was walking toward his residence seemed to suggest he’d only gone “for a walk” for the day.
By Cameron Rasmusson Reader Staff Pete Thompson, former owner and co-founder of the Bonner County Daily Bee and a self-described “newspaperman” to the core, died at his home Sunday. He was 89. A mentor to many regional journalists, a tireless volunteer for charitable organizations like the Sandpoint Lions and a strong advocate for Idaho conservation, Thompson will be honored in services 11 a.m. Friday at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church. As the owner of the Bonner County Daily Bee until its sale to the Hagadone Corporation, Thompson helped launch many a young career in the 1980s. One such individual is Keokee Publishing owner Chris Bessler, who considers Thompson to be a mentor. “Pete was a heck of a good guy, and because he owned the paper in his hometown, he put a lot of heart into it,” Bessler
Pete Thompson. Photo courtesy Thompson family said. Thompson was friends with former Idaho Governor Cecil Andrus, who passed away in 2017. Shortly after the former governor died, Thompson shared fond memories with the Sandpoint Reader about the fishing trips and visits he and Andrus enjoyed. United in their commitment to conservation policies, Thompson was appointed by Andrus to serve on the Idaho Fish and Game Commission. June 6, 2019 /
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