Mushroom pickers kill charging grizzly bear near Choteau

Two landowners were picking mushrooms about a mile north of Choteau on May 21 when they were charged by an adult female grizzly bear, state wildlife officials said.

The men shot and killed the bear at close range and were uninjured during the encounter, according to a Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks press release.

"I spoke to John and Justin shortly after the incident and they were both still shook up," Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks Director Christy Clark said. “They told me their story and it was clear it was very traumatic. What’s important here is they’re OK.”

The female grizzly in this incident had a cub of the year with her at the time of the encounter. State wildlife officials were attempting to capture the cub.

Bears are active along the Rocky Mountain Front and in areas around towns like Choteau, Ulm and Cascade. Residents experiencing conflicts with bears should call their local FWP bear specialist.