Man shoots mama grizzly bear in Montana after officials say she charged him
A man shot and killed a mama grizzly bear in Montana after state wildlife officials said she charged at him.
The man was “shed hunting,” or looking for antlers shed by deer, elk and other animals, when he saw the bear on a “brushy hillside," according to a news release issued Monday by the Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks.
“As he was leaving the area, the bear charged him at close range," the agency said. "He shot and killed the bear. Fortunately, the man was uninjured."
Officials said the incident happened on Friday in north-central Montana near Dupuyer, about 70 miles south of the Canadian border.
Wildlife officials said it was an adult female bear that had “no history of conflict.” Officials also said the bear was estimated to be about 13 years old and about 250 pounds. They said a yearling cub was found unharmed at the site of the incident and that it was left alone.
According to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, a yearling is a young bear, older than a year old.
The Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks did not immediately respond to Paste BN's question Tuesday about whether the mama bear may have been defending her cub.
Officials say encounters with bears more likely
The agency said that grizzly bear populations have become denser and more widespread across the state, increasing the “likelihood that residents and recreationists will encounter them in more places each year.”
Although the number of grizzly bears has increased, they are still listed as threatened under the Endangered Species Act. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service says there are about 1,900 grizzly bears in the continental United States.
Other bear attacks and what to do
Back in July 2024, a 72-year-old man shot and killed another grizzly bear and was left seriously injured. Wildlife officials said the man was picking huckleberries alone on Flathead National Forest lands, when an adult female grizzly bear charged at him and attacked.
The National Park Service recommends keeping the following things in mind when exploring the backcountry:
- Be alert and aware of your surroundings and pay attention to signs.
- Make noise, especially in areas with limited visibility or when sound is muffled (e.g., near streams or when it is windy).
- Carry bear spray and know how to use it.
- Hike in big groups of three or more; avoid venturing into the wilderness alone.
- If you encounter a bear, do not run. Instead back away slowly.
- Immediately alert authorities if you see a bear.
- If you see cubs, be extra cautious. Mother bears are very protective of their young. Do not approach, touch or interact with cubs.
Contributing: Saman Shafiq, Paste BN
Fernando Cervantes Jr. is a trending news reporter for Paste BN. Reach him at fernando.cervantes@gannett.com and follow him on X @fern_cerv_.