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A 72-year-old man shot a grizzly bear north of Columbia Falls last month after it attacked him.
Grizzly Bear Attack
According to AP News, the man went to pick wild huckleberries in Flathead National Forest. The female grizzly bear charged at him in what officials called a “surprise attack.”
The man had a handgun on him. He shot at the grizzly bear in self-defense. The bear has since been declared dead.
He went to the hospital after the attack. The Guardian reported that he was severely injured.
The FWP (Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks Department) responded to the report.
A spokesperson from the department told AP News the attack was probably in defense of her cubs.
According to CNN, the FWP put game cameras up in the area of the encounter to watch for possible abandoned grizzly bear cubs. The man is not being charged as it’s considered to be a case of lawful self-defense.
The location of the grizzly bear attack is only a few miles from the town of Columbia Falls. The FWP have warned citizens to be prepared to encounter bears.
Preparation and Avoidance
An official report from the FWP advised, “Avoiding conflicts with bears is easier than dealing with conflicts.” They gave several suggestions on avoiding grizzly bears and on defending from them.
The number one way to avoid bears is to avoid or contain the things that attract them. Bears will eat animal carcasses if they find them. They also like trash or any other food that they can get to.
Anyone traveling through bear country was encouraged to carry a method of self-defense. Because shooting a mother bear can lead to abandoned cubs, FWP recommends bear spray.
READ MORE: Two Hunters Killed By ‘Zombie Deer’ Disease?
Many people take precautions to prepare for a potential grizzly bear encounter. After all, no one wants to be caught off guard and defenseless.
Just like you can’t predict when you’ll face a bear, you won’t always have a warning when self-defense is necessary. So, be ready to defend yourself in any situation, not just against wildlife.
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