GREAT FALLS — A man was attacked by a grizzly bear on Tuesday while hunting in the western Gravelly Mountains.
The hunter, who was from Ohio, survived the encounter and was treated at the Ruby Valley Medical Center in Sheridan. The nature and severity of his injuries has not been disclosed.
Montana Fish, Widlife, and Parks said in a press release on Wednesday that it happened between the Coal Creek Drainage and the Eureka Basin Road, about eight miles south of where three other hunters were injured last week in two separate grizzly bear attacks.
FWP says the hunter was aware of grizzly bears in the Gravelly Mountains and was prepared to defend himself during an attack.
FWP wardens and Madison County Sheriff’s deputies interviewed the injured hunter, who said he was walking through blow-down timber when he was attacked by a bear from a very close range. During the incident, the man reportedly fired several shots at the bear until it left. The man was able to meet up with other members of his hunting party and get medical attention.
FWP wardens and U.S. Forest Service law enforcement were able to begin their investigation quickly as they were already in the Gravelly Mountains on Tuesday concluding their investigation into last week's attacks. They notified other hunters and campers in the area of the most recent attack and searched for a bear in connection with that incident. That search will continue this week.
FWP wardens are continuing to investigate this latest attack, and request that people stay out of the Coal Creek and Twin Springs area while the investigation continues.
FWP is continuing to investigate the attacks, and said that more details will be provided as they become available.
Click here to learn more about bears in Montana at the FWP website .
- 2 grizzly bear attacks within 12 hours in southwest Montana
- Grizzly bear killed after raiding occupied back-country camps west of Augusta
- Grizzly bear north of Conrad captured and relocated
- Grizzly bear euthanized near Augusta for killing calves
- Grizzly bear euthanized near Wolf Creek after killing cows
- 2 grizzly bears relocated from the Flathead Valley
- Grizzly bear euthanized in Sun River Valley for killing calves
