Hunter opens fire and kills grizzly bear charging toward him, Montana officials say

Helena Wegner
·2 min read
11

A hunter opened fire and killed a charging grizzly bear in the Montana backcountry, wildlife officials said.

The hunter was looking for black bears on June 5 in the Madison Range near Ennis when he encountered a grizzly bear, the Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks said in a June 12 news release.

The 15-year-old female grizzly was surprised and charged toward the hunter after the “close encounter,” officials said.

The hunter fired his pistol at the animal in self-defense, killing it, officials said. The man wasn’t injured, and cubs were not seen with the bear.

Wildlife officials investigated the incident and confirmed the bear’s death, which was outside the Grizzly Bear Recovery Zone for the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem.

Grizzly bears were listed as a threatened species by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in 1975 in the “lower 48 states.”

A recovery plan for the animal was then created to “focus on conflict reduction, information and education, establishment of habitat protections, and other efforts to prevent and reduce human-caused mortality.”

This bear had been captured in 2013 for research and didn’t have any history of conflict with people, Montana officials said.

Ennis is in southwest Montana, about 105 miles south of Helena.

What to do if you see a bear

Bear attacks in the U.S. are rare, according to the National Park Service. In most attacks, bears are trying to defend their food, cubs or space.

There are steps people can take to help prevent a bear encounter from becoming a bear attack.

  • Identify yourself: Talk calmly and slowly wave your arms. This can help the bear realize you’re a human and nonthreatening.

  • Stay calm: Bears usually don’t want to attack; they want to be left alone. Talk slowly and with a low voice to the bear.

  • Don’t scream: Screaming could trigger an attack.

  • Pick up small children: Don’t let kids run away from the bear. It could think they’re small prey.

  • Hike in groups: A group is noisier and smellier, the National Park Service said. Bears like to keep their distance from groups of people.

  • Make yourself look big: Move to higher ground and stand tall. Don’t make any sudden movements.

  • Don’t drop your bag: A bag on your back can keep a bear from accessing food, and it can provide protection.

  • Walk away slowly: Move sideways so you appear less threatening to the bear. This also lets you keep an eye out.

  • Again, don’t run: Bears will chase you, just like a dog would.

  • Don’t climb trees: Grizzlies and black bears can also climb.

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