A female grizzly bear that was injured on Thursday during an encounter with a hiker just outside of Dupuyer has been found and euthanized.
FWP said in a news release on Thursday that the hiker encountered the sow with a cub at close range. The sow attacked and bit the hiker in the thigh. The hiker had a pistol with him and shot the bear, injuring it. The injured bear moved off and the hiker walked back to his house in Dupuyer. He met emergency services along the road in route to the hospital.
The bear’s behavior indicated it attacked to protect her cub from a perceived threat posed by the hiker.
FWP wardens and bear specialists searched for the wounded bear late into the night. The search resumed on Thursday morning with an FWP helicopter and ground crews. The injured sow was found and euthanized by FWP personnel. There is no word on whether they were able to find the cub; we will update you if we get more information.
(1st Report, 11:29 a.m.) A man was attacked by a grizzly bear west of Conrad on Wednesday evening.
The Pondera County Sheriff’s Office received a report at around 9 p.m. of a hiker that was attacked near Dupuyer.
The man was able to fend off the bear and get medical help; the nature and extent of his injuries are not being released at this time.
As of Thursday morning, Montana Fish, Wildlife, and Parks officials are continuing to search for the bear, and say that the bear may have been shot.
Dupuyer-area residents are asked to stay safe and report any bear sighting to law enforcement.
FWP is asking people to take extra precautions now that bears are emerging from hibernation and venturing out looking for food.
Anyone recreating in bear country is highly encouraged to have bear spray. Proper use of bear spray has proven to be the best method for reducing the severity of a bear attack and fending off threatening or attacking bears.
Montana Fish, Wildlife, and Parks maintains a page on Facebook to keep people aware of recent grizzly bear sightings and incidents along and east of the Rocky Mountain Front. The page is called the Prairie Bear Monitor.
