Bear killed after mauling solo camper in the Bob

A black bear that mualed a man camping in the Black Bear Creek campsite of the Bob Marshall Wilderness has been destroyed. Evidence from the Sept. 14 incident led Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks officials to call the mauling “a predatory attack.”

Warden Sgt. Jon Obst, who interviewed the man who was attacked, said the 185-pound, 5-year-old bear jumped on the tent at about 7:30 a.m., collapsing it and tearing through the fabric before mauling the man, who was camping alone.

The man was able to spray the animal with bear spray and it ceased its attack, but it remained in the area.

The man soon encountered a Forest Service trail crew that was able to chase the bear off and radio for help. The vicitim was flown by ALERT helicopter to Kalispell Regional Medical Center.

Also last week, a grizzly bear was captured by FWP officials Saturday morning between Highway 2 and the Whitefish River, just southeast of Whitefish.

According to grizzly bear management specialist Tim Manley, the 3-year old, 271-pound male grizzly had been in the area for about a week and was reportedly feeding on unsecured garbage and apples. The property where the bear was caught now has a bear-resistant Dumpster.