Hunters Who Killed Mama Grizzly Were Acting in Self-Defense: Officials

Two Montana men shot and killed a mama grizzly bear in self-defense over the weekend after officials say she charged at them.

The pair from Whitefish were near the Smokey Range Trailhead in the Flathead National Forest on Saturday scouting for hunting season when they stumbled across the bear and her cub, according to a news release from Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks.

The men surprised the bear, causing her to charge at them. Both men pulled out their guns and shot and killed the bear, and one shot the other man in the back shoulder during the incident. He was taken to the hospital for his injuries.

Officials investigated the death and determined that the bear appeared to have charged at them due to their surprise appearance. According to the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, grizzly bears are listed as a threatened species and it is illegal to kill, harm, or harass them unless it is self-defense or for the safety of others.

Montana FWP said the bear was 25 years old and had no history of conflict with humans. She was tagged in 2009 for population monitoring purposes.

As for the cub, Greg Lemon, a spokesman for Montana FWP, told USA TODAY that unless the cub is injured or sick, the agency will “leave it be” as it “has a pretty good chance for survival.” Lemon said that other orphaned cubs have survived in the area in the past.

If the agency determines that the bear needs to be captured, it will be trapped and taken to a zoo. If no zoos are able to take the cub, Lemon said it would be euthanized.

When traveling in Bear County, Montana FWP recommends carrying bear spray, and traveling in groups and encourages making casual noise to let bears know that you are around. It also advises staying away from animal carcasses, watching for bear scat to know if one is nearby, and storing food properly.