Hunters hear rustling in bushes and see grizzly charging them, Montana officials say

Maddie Capron
·2 min read
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Hunters were walking along a Montana trail and heard brush breaking nearby. Suddenly, a grizzly bear was charging toward them, officials said.

The two hunters were walking Eldridge Trial near Taylor Creek on Oct. 14, Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks said.

“They heard brush breaking and saw a grizzly bear charging at them,” officials said in an Oct. 25 news release. “Both hunters fired multiple handgun rounds at the bear, and it left without any signs of injury.”

The hunters weren’t injured, and officials scoured the area for signs of the injured bear. After a second day of searching, they found no evidence that the bear was injured.

“The bear’s charge was likely the result of a surprise, defensive encounter because of the wind direction, the bear’s proximity to the hunters and because the female bear was accompanied by two cubs,” officials said.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is investigating the incident.

It wasn’t the only bear encounter to happen in southwest Montana recently, officials said. In Big Sky, a female grizzly bear was euthanized on Oct. 21 after several conflicts.

The female and two cubs continued to visit homes for several weeks before they were captured. They were spotted near an elementary school during the day, and landowners had made several attempts to haze them away.

Additionally, a bear was struck and killed by a car near West Yellowstone on Sunday, Oct. 23, wildlife officials said, and a female grizzly and two cubs were captured and relocated from Gardiner.

What to do if you see a bear

Bear attacks in the U.S. are rare, according to the National Park Service. Bears in most attacks are trying to defend their food, cubs or space.

There are steps people can take to help prevent a bear encounter from becoming a bear attack.

  • Identify yourself: Talk calmly and slowly wave your arms. This can help the bear realize you’re a human and nonthreatening.

  • Stay calm: Bears usually don’t want to attack; they want to be left alone. Talk slowly and with a low voice to the bear.

  • Don’t scream: Screaming could trigger an attack.

  • Pick up small children: Don’t let kids run away from the bear. It could think they’re small prey.

  • Hike in groups: A group is noisier and smellier, the National Park Service said. Bears like to keep their distance from groups of people.

  • Make yourself look big: Move to higher ground and stand tall. Don’t make any sudden movements.

  • Don’t drop your bag: A bag on your back can keep a bear from accessing food, and it can provide protection.

  • Walk away slowly: Move sideways so you appear less threatening to the bear. This also lets you keep an eye out.

  • Again, don’t run: Bears will chase you, just like a dog would.

  • Don’t climb trees: Grizzlies and black bears can also climb.

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