Black bear swats, injures angler, Montana FWP says

An adult American black bear. Credit: (U.S. Forest Service)

An angler was injured in a black bear attack on the Stillwater River near Beehive on the afternoon of Wednesday, Aug. 21, Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks said this week.

The angler, an adult male, sustained non-life-threatening injuries, FWP said.

FWP described the incident in a news release:

The angler, an adult male, was fishing alone on the bank of the Stillwater River when he encountered a black bear. The bear swatted the man’s face and immediately left. The man sustained non-life-threatening injuries and did not seek medical attention.

The bear’s behavior was likely defensive in the surprise, close encounter, FWP said.

Due to the nature of this defensive encounter, there are no efforts to capture the bear at this time. Recreationists, including anglers, should be aware while in bear country, especially in areas with abundant natural foods such as fruit and berries and where hearing may be limited along rivers and streams.