A hunter was severely injured in a bear attack on Monday morning while hunting on state-owned land near Elk Creek and Haystack Butte, south of Augusta, Montana. According to a statement from Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks (FWP), the man was archery hunting at the time of the attack and sustained significant but non-life-threatening injuries.
The victim drove himself to his home after the attack and was later transported to Benefis Hospital by private vehicle for treatment. FWP officials said that the species of the bear involved is currently unknown and the incident remains under investigation.
Lewis and Clark County Sheriff Leo Dutton said that the man, who is 20 years old, fell into a fetal position during the bear's attack and was eventually left by the bear. Dutton added that the bear "smacked him around" before leaving the scene.
FWP officials emphasized the importance of human safety in the wake of the incident, urging hunters to retrieve meat as quickly as possible and properly hang anything left behind. They also advised hunters to be extra vigilant and watch for bears, especially at dawn and dusk when bears are most active.
The incident is the latest in a series of serious bear encounters reported across the United States this year. In May, a hiker in Montana survived a grizzly bear attack on the Grinnell Glacier Trail in Glacier National Park.
NTC Report coverage is based on reporting from the original publisher.
View original reporting →
