Montana hunters fire at charging grizzly bear, but apparently miss

Montana on Tuesday detailed several recent incidents involving grizzly bears, including one in which two hunters fired multiple handgun rounds at a charging bear in self-defense.

The “defensive encounter” occurred Oct. 14. The hunters were walking on a trail in the Madison Range when they heard brush breaking and saw a large bear emerge. Both hunters fired repeatedly and the bear fled without apparent signs of injury.

The Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks Department stated in a news release that the female bear probably was caught by surprise because of the wind direction, and that her charge was in defense of her two cubs.

Remarkably, the bullets seem to have missed the large target.

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On Oct. 15, FWP staff flew over the area and did not find an injured bear. A ground search turned up bear tracks and shell casings, but no “blood, hair, or any other evidence the bear was injured.”

The incident remains under investigation.

FWP also reported that a female grizzly bear and two cubs were captured from the town of Gardiner, near Yellowstone National Park, and relocated after repeatedly feeding in apple trees in public areas.

The bears did not respond to hazing attempts and instead became more brazen. On Oct. 17, the bears were feeding in apple trees near a school bus stop and prevented children from boarding the bus.

They were deemed a public safety hazard, trapped, and relocated to a site pre-approved by the Montana Fish and Wildlife Commission.

On Oct. 21, a female grizzly bear was euthanized after several conflicts with humans in Big Sky. Her two older cubs were relocated to a pre-approved release site.

On Oct. 23, an older male grizzly bear was found dead on U.S. Highway 191 after being struck by a vehicle near West Yellowstone.

FWP reiterated that grizzly bear populations “continue to become denser and more widespread in Montana, increasing the likelihood that residents and recreationists will encounter them in more places each year.”

The agency asked residents to take more precautions to protect themselves and the animals. Unsecured attractants such as fruit trees, bird feeders, and garbage are often factors in bear-human conflicts.

–Generic grizzly bear image is courtesy of the National Park Service