A 72-year-old man shot and killed a grizzly bear during an encounter in Montana, leaving him seriously injured.
The man, whose identity has not been released, was picking huckleberries alone last Thursday in the Flathead National Forest, about two miles north of Columbia Falls, when an adult female grizzly bear lunged at him and attacked him, the Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks said in a statement Friday. Columbia Falls is a city of about 5,500 people in northwest Montana, about 200 miles from Helena.
The man fought back and shot the bear dead with a handgun, but not before suffering serious injuries that required hospitalization.
“FWP has determined that this was a sudden defensive encounter,” the department said, adding that they were checking to see if an adult female bear cub was in the area.
The man’s condition is still unknown, and authorities did not immediately respond to USA Today’s requests for an update on the man’s injuries or whether there were any bear cubs in the area.
Montana Bears
Montana is home to both grizzly bears and American black bears, with the grizzly bear being the official state animal.
According to the Fish and Wildlife Service, grizzly bears are protected under both state and federal law, while black bears are managed as game animals. Under current Montana law, it is legal to kill or attempt to kill a grizzly bear in self-defense, or if the bear is “attacking or killing or threatening to kill a person or livestock.”
What should I do if I encounter a bear?
The park service recommends the following when exploring the backcountry:
- Be aware of your surroundings and pay attention to signs.
- Try to keep quiet, especially in areas where visibility is limited or sound is hard to hear (such as near a stream or when it’s windy).
- Carry bear spray and know how to use it.
- Hike in large groups of three or more people. Avoid venturing into the wilderness alone.
- If you encounter a bear, back away slowly instead of running away.
- If you see a bear, report it to authorities immediately.
- If you see a bear cub, please take special care – mother bears are very protective of their cubs – do not approach, touch or interact with them.
Saman Shafiq is a featured news reporter for USA TODAY. Contact him at sshafiq@gannett.com. Follow him on X: @saman_shafiq7.
