Huckleberry picker shoots, kills attacking grizzly that had three cubs
A grizzly bear in this file photo.
Hungry Horse News
A man was hospitalized after an encounter with a sow grizzly bear with yearling cubs on Thursday (July 18) evening approximately 2 miles north of Columbia Falls, Montana Fish, Wildlife and Park reported.
The incident happened off the Cedar Flats Road, a popular hiking and biking area.
A 72-year-old man was alone picking huckleberries on Flathead National Forest lands off the North Fork Road when he reported encountering a bear that charged and attacked him. The individual shot and killed the bear with a handgun.
FWP wardens and bear specialists responded to the incident and confirmed that an adult female grizzly bear was killed. FWP determined it to be a surprise defensive encounter.
The sow had cubs, which survived.
“We identified three cubs. They were at the site for a short amount of time but then appeared to have left. We are leaving them in the wild and have pulled cameras,” FWP spokesman Dillon Tabish said Monday.
The man’s name was not released and the extent of his injuries was also not released.
This story was updated to include the cub information.