Man injured in bear attack near Hungry Horse Reservoir

A man was reportedly injured in a bear attack in the Twin Creek area along the east side of the Hungry Horse Reservoir this weekend.

The injured victim reportedly drove with his hunting partner to get medical attention after the incident occurred Sunday morning. The details surrounding the attack are still under investigation.

“It appears to be a surprise encounter in a brushy area,” said Neil Anderson, Wildlife Manager at Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks.

Initial reports say the hunters fired shots at the bear during the attack, and it ran off into the woods near Spotted Bear River.

“Our Wildlife Human Attack Response Team has been called to go back to the scene,” Anderson said. “They will go out and look at what happened and try to piece together any information they can.”

Where bears and humans exist together, conflicts can arise. The U.S. Fish, Wildlife and Parks Service and the U.S. Forest Service have tips for visitors and hunters to practice to minimize the threat of an attack. This includes storing food and disposing of waste properly, carrying bear spray (or a firearm) and making noise to avoid sneaking up on a bear.

“Hunters are not usually making noise. But they are usually very aware that there are bears out there,” said Janette Turk, a Public Affairs Officer for the Flathead National Forest.

Anderson said hunters should always keep a close eye on their surroundings, and avoid areas with limited sight distance whenever possible. It can also be helpful to know which areas have high densities of grizzlies and black bears, he said.

The autumn season is a common time for people to come into contact with bears.

“Right now the bears are coming down from the mountains looking for food before they hibernate,” Turk said.

For anyone who visits bear country, Turk said “You need to be situationally aware.”

Reporter Breeana Laughlin can be reached at 758-4441 or blaughlin@dailyinterlake.com.