Shed hunter kills charging grizzly near Dupuyer

A man hunting for shed antlers near Dupuyer in northcentral Montana last week shot and killed a grizzly bear Friday.

According to Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks, the man was searching for antlers on a brushy hillside when he saw a bear. While he was leaving the area, the bear charged him at close range. He shot and killed the bear. Fortunately, the man was uninjured.

Officials said the adult female bear had a single yearling cub that was found on site, unharmed. No management action will be taken for the yearling. The sow was reported to be in good condition and had no history of conflict. She was estimated to be 13 years old and weighing about 250 pounds.

FWP officials encouraged people to be aware of the possibility of bear encounters when spending time outdoors.

Though they have reached recovery levels in the Northern Continental Divide and Greater Yellowstone Ecosystems, grizzly bears in the lower 48 states are listed as threatened under the Endangered Species Act. Grizzly populations continue to become denser and more widespread in Montana, increasing the likelihood that residents and recreationists will encounter them in more places each year.

Avoiding conflicts with bears is easier than dealing with conflicts. 

FWP offered the following precautions to help residents, recreationists and people who work outdoors avoid negative bear encounters:

- Never feed wildlife. Bears that become food conditioned lose their natural foraging behavior and pose threats to human safety. It is illegal to feed bears in Montana.

- Carry bear spray and be prepared to use it immediately.

- Travel in groups whenever possible and make casual noise, which can help alert bears to your presence.

- Stay away from animal carcasses, which often attract bears.

- Follow food storage orders from the applicable land management agency.

- If you encounter a bear, never approach it. Leave the area when it is safe to do so.

- Keep garbage, bird feeders, pet food and other attractants put away in a secure building. Keep garbage in a secure building until the day it is collected. Certified bear-resistant garbage containers are available in many areas.

Management authority for grizzlies rests with the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, working closely in Montana with FWP, the Forest Service, the National Park Service, the Bureau of Land Management, the U.S. Geological Survey, Wildlife Services, and Native American tribes. This collaboration happens through the Interagency Grizzly Bear Committee.

For more information and resources on bear safety, visit fwp.mt.gov/conservation/wildlife-management/bear.