Man killed by bear had plenty of backcountry experience

(AP) — The Montana man killed by a bear near Glacier National Park was intimately familiar with both the beauty and the danger of the wild and vast forest that spreads from the shadows of the park's rugged peaks.

Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks' wildlife response team set up traps, installed wilderness cameras and flew over the area in a helicopter, but it was unclear just how long the search would continue.

Bears that attack humans are killed if it is found that they displayed predatory behavior, such as stalking the person, or consumed their victim.

To confirm whether they have the right bear, wildlife officials typically collect DNA from the animal to compare it with evidence at the scene, analyze bite marks and other injuries on the victim, and examine the animal's claws, jaws and feces for human remains.

[...] an autopsy was performed on the victim at the state crime lab, and the evidence gathered could help determine the size, age and sex of the bear, narrowing the search, Flathead County Sheriff Chuck Curry said.