Woman attacked by bear up the North Fork Sunday

A 73-year-old North Fork woman was attacked by a bear Sunday afternoon near Trail Creek.

The bear came out of the brush at the “bubbleups,” as the woman walked with her husband and her dog on the Flathead National Forest.

The woman suffered multiple injuries, includes bites and scratches and possibly a broken arm.

Her husband sprayed the bear with bear spray until the can was empty, neighbors who talked to the couple said. The couple returned to their vehicle and drove to a location where they could call emergency services.

The ALERT helicopter flew to the scene and transported her to the hospital for treatment of her injuries. The call came in about 3 p.m. She was reportedly a local resident and is recovering in the hospital.

The bubbleups is an area where Trail Creek bubbles back up to the surface after flowing underground.

The area is forested and remote.

Montana Fish Wildlife and Parks wardens and investigators have closed the area and are investigating. The species of bear has been undetermined, FWP said in a release.

This story has been updated from its original version.