A 72-year-old man was attacked by a grizzly bear while picking huckleberries on national forest land in Montana. The man, who has not been identified, suffered significant injuries during the encounter and was able to kill the bear with a handgun in self-defense.
The attack occurred on Thursday in the Flathead National Forest, about 2 miles north of Columbia Falls. Wildlife officials believe that the female grizzly bear was likely protecting her cubs at the time of the attack.
Wildlife workers are currently searching for any cubs in the area and have set out game cameras to confirm their presence. Depending on their age, they may leave them in the wild if they have a better chance of survival, rather than euthanize them.
Meanwhile, Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks officials shot and killed an adult female grizzly bear in Gardiner on Thursday after it had become accustomed to seeking food from people and breaking into houses. No people were injured by the bear before it was shot in the Yellowstone River.
Grizzly bears are listed as a threatened species under the Endangered Species Act, with an estimated 2,000 roaming western Wyoming, eastern Idaho, western Montana and several thousand more inhabiting the Canadian Rockies and Alaska.
It is important for people to be aware that they are in bear country when visiting Montana. Avoiding negative encounters with bears is easier than dealing with them. Carrying bear spray and traveling in groups can help prevent conflicts.
