Two grizzly bear encounters in Montana on the same day have resulted in the death of both bears

[{"selector":"#anim-0a907197-191d-408c-b95d-8b05b4a94a07","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":100,"duration":1700,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-6a767c60-ae94-43cb-aa0d-1f4f49b16dca","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":200,"duration":1400,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-8aa974c8-f627-466a-b5c8-3ebafafcaffd","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 194.86536%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":200,"duration":1400,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] A 72-year-old man from Montana shot and killed a grizzly bear in self-defense while picking huckleberries alone in the Flathead National Forest, near North Fork Road. The bear charged at him, and he used a handgun to protect himself. View More Arrow

[{"selector":"#anim-31509ab8-31f2-42d6-a4a4-2d74ad2309e3","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":100,"duration":1700,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-b674522a-4a80-41c8-a37d-4cc363f5d386","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":200,"duration":1400,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-a236f9b4-0f05-4326-9354-f8fdf673e472","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 180.01491%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":200,"duration":1400,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] The incident occurred on Thursday evening, about 2 miles north of Columbia Falls in Flathead County. Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks (FWP) officials, including bear specialists, confirmed that the bear was an adult female grizzly. The man was hospitalized following the incident. View More Arrow

[{"selector":"#anim-24a3a619-fc13-4a54-bb26-ab5d64924861","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":200,"duration":1400,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-4cec6e1e-a122-4f72-b3e5-e62b4d4e3082","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 201.86745%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":200,"duration":1400,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] On the same day, Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks staff were notified of a separate incident involving a grizzly bear breaking into a home in Maiden Basin. View More Arrow

[{"selector":"#anim-19e73681-f3b5-44d2-8055-7ca394443449","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":200,"duration":1400,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-0153de6e-b74f-4076-8c03-5fc2275b8dff","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 165.54853%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":200,"duration":1400,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] The bear, identified as having been involved in previous break-ins and food thefts in the Gardiner area (an entrance to Yellowstone National Park), was euthanized by the FWP staff. View More Arrow

[{"selector":"#anim-e7d9f31c-b0ab-46a8-892d-1f32715ddd4a","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":200,"duration":1400,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-38d62625-ab73-47b9-b408-7d69256e2203","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 200.16841%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":200,"duration":1400,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Both incidents underscore the complex relationship between humans and wildlife in areas where their habitats overlap. Such conflicts often result in dangerous encounters and highlight the need for effective management strategies. View More Arrow

[{"selector":"#anim-40be95cd-a9c2-459b-8c7a-50b999cd7960","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":200,"duration":1400,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-14ce418d-2d28-4819-9ea3-b18d9c9aafc3","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 190.22854%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":200,"duration":1400,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] The bear involved in the self-defense shooting appeared to be engaging in natural, albeit aggressive, behavior, while the bear euthanized in Maiden Basin had exhibited problematic behavior by repeatedly breaking into homes View More Arrow

[{"selector":"#anim-97001c5c-5780-438f-bd7d-eb6e681b8e4f","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":200,"duration":1400,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-8ef54b80-d8e5-41ee-bf23-f1311c986b53","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 178.81483%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":200,"duration":1400,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] These events may prompt a review of current wildlife management practices, emphasizing the importance of education on how to safely coexist with wildlife, proper storage of food and waste, and the use of bear deterrents. View More Arrow

[{"selector":"#anim-fed17777-3b5f-4ba9-87ad-409c4fc0844e","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":200,"duration":1400,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-7c1c0985-b9b3-4d43-a437-92bc58d8267c","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 180.68609%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":200,"duration":1400,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Residents and visitors in bear country are advised to take safety precautions, such as carrying bear spray, making noise while hiking to avoid surprising bears, and learning how to respond to bear encounters. View More Arrow