Bear mauls woman hiking at Duck Lake

Federal wildlife officials say a bear mauled a woman who was hiking north of Duck Lake late last week on the Blackfeet Indian Reservation.

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service grizzly bear recovery coordinator Chris Servheen says that the woman told Blackfeet tribal wildlife authorities that the bear was a grizzly, but that hasn’t been confirmed.

Servheen says tribal officials told him the woman was hiking with dogs  when they came upon a horse carcass that the bear was likely defending.

The bear attacked the woman and then ran away.

Servheen says he was told the woman’s injuries were not life-threatening.

No action will be taken against the bear because it appears to be an inadvertent surprise encounter, according to the Great Falls Tribune. Servheen said the bear did not kill the horse. 

Blackfeet wildlife officials did not immediately return phones calls from The Associated Press on Monday seeking comment.