Grizzly death inquiry suggests new safety measures to protect bears, mountain bikers

For the Hungry Horse News

An inter-agency review board on Monday released its final report on the June 2016 grizzly-mauling death of Brad Treat, a Flathead National Forest law enforcement officer who was off duty and riding a mountain bike when he collided with the bear in the forest’s Green Gate trail system south of Glacier National Park.

Treat died at the scene of the subsequent bear attack on June 29, 2016. The report noted that neither Treat nor his bike-riding companion were carrying bear spray or guns. The evidence indicated that the grizzly was surprised by the encounter and its reaction was consistent with a “natural defensive response,” the authors stated.

DNA samples collected from the scene of Treat’s death matched those of a grizzly that had been captured in 2006 in Glacier National Park as part of a wildlife research project. Estimated to be 18 to 20 years old at the time of last year’s incident, the bear had no history of conflicts with humans, and the report states that it apparently did not attempt to consume any part of the body or return to the scene later.

Because grizzly bears are federally protected under the Endangered Species Act, the incident was reviewed by a special board consisting of five current and former natural-resource agency employees. The review board was chaired by University of Montana ecology professor Chris Servheen and included biologists from the Flathead National Forest, Glacier National Park and Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks.

The high-profile death of Treat captured nationwide media attention last summer. Forest officials said at the time it was the first fatal bear mauling documented in the 2.5 million-acre forest, part of an ecosystem home to an estimated 1,000 grizzlies. It was Northwest Montana’s first fatal grizzly encounter since 2001.

The inter-agency report concludes that the surprise encounter provided little time for Treat or the bear to react, estimating that the cyclist rounded a blind curve in the trail at 20-25 miles per hour, giving him just one to two seconds to see the bear.

“The high speed of the collision is further supported by the fact that Mr. Treat did not try to ride off to the side of the trail to avoid the bear, there were no bike skid marks in the trail and the fact that the bear did not jump off the trail to avoid the oncoming bike,” the report states.

In a separate report, also released Monday, the authors recommend additional specific actions to reduce conflicts between bears and mountain bikers.

The recommendations direct public-lands managers to evaluate trails before opening them to mountain biking, relying on factors including vegetation density that can reduce visibility, the presence of bears’ preferred foods and forage habitat and considering seasonal trail closures when bears are most active.

It also recommends using brochures and signs at public trailheads to provide warning to mountain bikers in bear country. The suggestions include avoiding areas with fresh bear signs, slowing down and making noise to avoid surprising bears along the trail, never riding alone and always carrying bear spray.

Treat was riding with a companion on the outer loop of the Green Gates trail system the afternoon of the incident, traveling quickly and 20 to 25 yards ahead of his biking partner.

“Upon impact with the bear, the victim and the bike flipped over the bear, with the victim landing on his hands and then back, with the bike landing down the trail from the victim in the direction he was traveling,” the report quotes Brian Sommers, a Fish, Wildlife and Parks biologist who responded to the incident, as saying. “With the landing on the trail, the victim was in very close proximity to the bear.”

The landing broke both of Treat’s wrists and his left shoulder blade, the report states.

After hearing the sounds of Treat crashing into the animal, Treat’s companion, rounded the curve and saw him on the ground with a large bear standing over him, according to the report.

“His companion said he was worried about the response of the bear should he try and ‘push’ the bear off of Mr. Treat, since he had nothing with which to defend himself,” it states.

Treat’s riding partner hiked out to U.S. 2, flagged down a vehicle on the highway to call for help and was able to contact 911 about an hour after the attack occurred. The report states that a Glacier National Park ranger reached the scene first, about two hours after the attack, and confirmed that Treat was dead.

Remote cameras placed in the area did not record any bear activity over the following two days, but several second-hand accounts reported bear activity elsewhere in the area. The report notes that the area is “extensively used” by grizzly and black bears, and includes past research projects that have identified multiple male and female grizzlies in the area.

The bear that killed Treat appeared to frequent Glacier National Park and the surrounding area. In addition to its 2006 capture in the park, five DNA samples taken in Glacier since 2009 matched those taken from the scene of Treat’s death, according to the review board’s report. At the time of its capture, it weighed 370 pounds.

Treat was well known throughout the community, especially among other law enforcement professionals.

The week after the incident, an estimated 2,000 friends, family members and colleagues attended his funeral service. Speakers remembered the former track star as humble, compassionate and dedicated to his work.

Last November, the Flathead National Forest held a dedication ceremony naming the road leading to the Hungry Horse Ranger Station in Treat’s honor.

Reporter Sam Wilson can be reached at 758-4407 or swilson@dailyinterlake.com.