POLSON — Confederated Salish and Kootenai authorities are looking for a grizzly bear that is now presumed dead and a zoo to take in the animal’s twin cubs that were found abandoned on the Flathead Indian Reservation.

The Missoulian reports Stacy Courville with the tribal wildlife management program says the hungry cubs were trapped last week, but there’s been no sign of their mother. The cubs are being held at a Helena wildlife center.

Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks spokesman Ron Aasheim says the agency is looking for a home for the 8-month-old bears. He says finding a zoo to take them in may be a challenge, as there are more regulations involved in placing the threatened species.

Authorities are seeking the public’s help in locating the missing mother bear.