Bear evades search efforts

The bear that attacked and killed a mountain biker Wednesday continued to evade state wildlife managers Friday after a third day scouring the area south of West Glacier.

Flathead National Forest law-enforcement officer Brad Treat, 38, was attacked while mountain-biking with a friend on the Green Gates trail system on national forest land outside Glacier National Park.

A coroner’s report is likely weeks from completion, but Flathead County Sheriff Chuck Curry said Friday the cause of death would be trauma associated with a bear attack.

The national story has prompted questions over whether Treat’s death was possibly due to a lack of precautions — such as carrying bear spray — but Curry said that wasn’t the case.

“It wouldn’t have mattered. When you’re riding on a trail and you physically run into a bear, it doesn’t matter what’s on your belt or in your hand,” Curry said.

He added that Treat’s friend had been biking far enough behind that he didn’t see the attack occur.

“He wisely decided his best course of action was to get out of there and get help,” Curry said. “It was wrong place, wrong time. We haven’t found any indication they did anything that was at all inappropriate.”

John Fraley, the regional spokesman for Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks, said several traps set in the area had failed to ensnare any bears by Friday evening.

“There was no action at the cameras or traps last night,” Fraley said Friday. “We’re going to wait and see if we get any activity.”

A specialized team of state game wardens and biologists set up remote wildlife cameras and culvert traps where Treat was attacked, while DNA samples from the scene are being analyzed to confirm the identity of any bears the team is able to capture.

South and east of U.S. 2, Flathead Forest officials have closed to public access a roughly 10-square-mile area surrounding the location that Treat was attacked.

Fraley declined to comment further on the search and said more detailed information on the agency’s efforts would be released today.

Flathead National Forest spokeswoman Janette Turk said a separate specialized team is handling the incident for the federal agency.

The team of forest law enforcement officials is providing support to Treat’s family, friends and coworkers as they mourn the loss amid an international media frenzy that started when news of the attack first came out Wednesday evening.

“It’s been hard for them, with a lot of interruptions. You have to answer your phone, because you’re waiting for someone else, but it’s maybe a media inquiry,” Turk said. “They’ve been through this; this team is specialized, unfortunately, in dealing with fatalities, helping the families and walking everybody through this.”

The incident team will coordinate with Treat’s family on funeral and memorial services. Turk said those details have yet to be finalized.

Part of the support for grieving coworkers has included briefings at forest offices each morning, providing updated information on the evolving situation and a venue for people to share their thoughts and feelings. Turk said she believes the meetings have been helpful and noted that a Facebook post from the forest had reached more than 200,000 Facebook users and gathered generally positive comments.

“I think every employee that was here this morning showed up for it,” Turk said Friday. “Some people have chosen to take annual leave. That’s how they can process this. He was a friend to many.”

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