Mauling victim may have collided with bear
<p><span>Montana Fish</span><span>, Wildlife and Parks grizzly bear specialist Tim Manley heads to the woods with a shotgun in the aftermath of a fatal mauling near West Glacier on Wednesday. </span></p>
The mountain biker involved in a fatal mauling near Glacier National Park earlier this week may have crashed into the bear, inciting the animal to react.
Brad Treat, a law enforcement officer with the U.S. Forest Service, was riding his mountain bike June 29 when he was attacked by a bear on the Green Gate/Half Moon trail system off Highway 2. Treat’s companion reported the incident and was not attacked. Treat was found dead by officers at the scene of the attack.
Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks on July 2 reported that based on preliminary findings, Wildlife Human Attack Response Team Lead Investigator Brian Sommers believes Treat was moving at a high rate of speed on his bike along a narrow trail and collided with the bear.
"Sight visibility at the location of the collision is very limited and the collision was unavoidable. The bear reacted which led to the attack," FWP reports in a press statement.
Based on this information and the investigation to this point, the team has removed the bear traps and cameras from the area, FWP adds.
The Green Gate/Half Moon trail system remains closed and posted by Forest Service officials. For more information on the closure contact Flathead National Forest at 406-758-5200.
The incident is under continued investigation and more details will be released as they become available.