Grizzly attacks 72-year-old picking berries, then man shoots it, Montana officials say

A grizzly bear attacked a 72-year-old man as he picked huckleberries in Montana, wildlife officials said.

He was in the Flathead National Forest alone on Thursday, July 18, the Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks said in a news release.

A female grizzly bear charged at the man and attacked him, officials said.

The man shot the animal with a handgun, killing it, officials said. He was then taken to a hospital after reporting the attack.

Wildlife officers and bear specialists responded to the area and found the animal dead, officials said.

Now, they are working to find out if there were cubs during the attack, officials said.

The incident was determined by officials to be a “surprise defensive encounter.”

Grizzly bears have been listed as a threatened species by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service since 1975 in the lower 48 states, making it illegal to “harm, harass or kill these bears, except in cases of self defense or the defense of others.”

Flathead National Forest is in northwestern Montana.

What to do if you see a bear

Bear attacks in the U.S. are rare, according to the National Park Service. In most attacks, bears are trying to defend their food, cubs or space.

There are steps people can take to help prevent a bear encounter from becoming a bear attack.

• Identify yourself: Talk calmly and slowly wave your arms. This can help the bear realize you’re a human and nonthreatening.

• Stay calm: Bears usually don’t want to attack; they want to be left alone. Talk slowly and with a low voice to the bear.

• Don’t scream: Screaming could trigger an attack.

• Pick up small children: Don’t let kids run away from the bear. It could think they’re small prey.

• Hike in groups: A group is noisier and smellier, the National Park Service said. Bears like to keep their distance from groups of people.

• Make yourself look big: Move to higher ground and stand tall. Don’t make any sudden movements.

• Don’t drop your bag: A bag on your back can keep a bear from accessing food, and it can provide protection.

• Walk away slowly: Move sideways so you appear less threatening to the bear. This also lets you keep an eye out.

• Again, don’t run: Bears will chase you, just like a dog would.

• Don’t climb trees: Grizzlies and black bears can also climb.

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