Husband Saves Wife After Pair Attacked by Bear While Walking Their Dog

A man is credited with saving his wife's life — and his own — after the couple was attacked by a bear while walking their dog. The husband used bear spray to drive the animal away, Montana wildlife officials said.

The attack happened Sunday near the U.S.-Canada border in Flathead County, Montana. The couple was walking their dog along the bank of Trail Creek when a bear emerged from the brush and attacked the woman, Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks said. Officials didn’t immediately release the woman’s name. 

The 73-year-old woman was saved when her husband deployed bear spray. The couple returned to their vehicle and drove to a location to call emergency services. 

The woman was transported by air to Logan Health Medical Center in Kalispell, officials said. It’s unclear what kind of bear attacked her, or the extent of her injuries.

The area of Trail Creek is closed while wildlife officials investigate the attack. 

The attack came just two days after a grizzly bear fatally mauled two people in Banff National Park in Canada. The bear was subsequently euthanized. 

Wildlife officials urge the public to be "bear aware" while in Montana, which is home to grizzly and black bears. Bears are more active in the fall as they prepare for winter hibernation.

Remember to carry bear spray, make noise to alert bears to your presence and stay face down if attacked, officials said.