Bear mauling victim remembered as standout officer

It was a hot Wednesday afternoon at the Green Gate trail complex in West Glacier.

“We’re looking for Brad Treat,” a family member explained. “He was riding bicycle and may have been attacked by a bear.”

At the time, no one was quite sure. The thought was that Treat may have gotten away and was simply riding his bicycle around back there, in that maze of trails just south of West Glacier.

Another family member Treat was riding with had not been attacked. He turned around, went back for help.

A massive search started about 3 p.m., June 29 with every agency in the North Valley responding. The ALERT helicopter flew over the area, which is thick with trees, brush and swamps.

But a little over an hour after the call came in, Treat was found. The worst was realized. The bear had killed the 38-year-old Flathead National Forest law enforcement officer.

A search for the bruin immediately ensued, with Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks wardens and Glacier National Park rangers armed with shotguns. The ALERT crew, when it was looking for Treat, saw a grizzly bear in a swamp nearby.

FWP’s Wildlife Human Attack Response Team set traps in the woods and remote cameras in the area. But to no avail.

By Saturday, they ceased the trapping effort. The bear got away.

Lead Investigator Brian Sommers, a game warden with FWP, found that Treat had collided with the bear at a high rate of speed with limited visibility on the trail. Investigators believe Treat had no time to react or avoid the collision. As of press time, the species of bear had not been released.

A coroner’s report is likely weeks from completion, but Flathead County Sheriff Chuck Curry said last Friday the cause of Treat’s death would be listed as trauma associated with a bear attack.

The national story has prompted questions over whether Treat’s death was possibly due to a lack of precautions — such as carrying bear spray — but Curry said that wasn’t the case.

“It wouldn’t have mattered. When you’re riding on a trail and you physically run into a bear, it doesn’t matter what’s on your belt or in your hand,” Curry said.

Treat was riding with a companion, but Curry said the other cyclist was far enough behind on the trail that he didn’t see the attack occur.

“He wisely decided his best course of action was to get out of there and get help,” Curry said. “It was wrong place, wrong time. We haven’t found any indication they did anything that was at all inappropriate.”

Today there is a profound sadness from family, friends and colleagues at the loss of a man considered to be one of best law enforcement officers in the valley. Treat was an experienced woodsman, athlete and most of all, friend to many.

“I’ve worked with the Forest Service for 25 years,” Rob Davies, Glacier View/Hungry Horse District Ranger said the day after the attack. “He was the best law enforcement officer I’ve ever worked with.”

Law enforcement in the Forest Service works separately from district rangers, Davies noted. But Treat, who grew up in the Flathead treated people like family, Davies noted. Treat joined the Forest Service in 2004.

“He was a super committed employee,” Davies said.

Treat had a way of making people laugh, even in difficult and trying circumstances.

“His sense of humor was amazing,” Davies said. “He made people laugh no matter what.”

Treat attended Flathead High School and was a standout distance runner in track and cross-country in the 1990s.

According to his coach, Paul Jorgensen, Treat won Class AA state championships in the 1,600 and 3,200-meter runs in 1996 and went on to compete for the University of Montana.

“Great kid and a fine runner,” Jorgenson said. “He will be missed.”

Treat also had ties to Glacier National Park. He worked there for three years

Prior to his tenure with the Forest Service, Treat worked in Glacier National Park for three summers in 1999, 2000 and 2001, one season with campgrounds, one with the backcountry office and one as a forestry tech one. His wife, Somer, was a former photographer for Glacier National Park and through marriage, Treat had ties to the Hileman, Johnson and Bengtson families of West Glacier.

“Brad Treat was a great person and amazing LEO,” said Glacier Park Chief Ranger Paul Austin. “As a Forest Service Law Enforcement Officer, he was our partner for many incidents, search and rescues, recoveries and patrols. Brad was the guy our team was happy to see late at night when you were in a tough spot. He was also our friend and our neighbor with deep roots in the area. Our staff is grieving his loss. Our thoughts go out to his family and to our Forest Service colleagues. We share in their sorrow.”

“Brad was an integral member of our area law enforcement team and a friend to us all. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family,” said Flathead County Sheriff Chuck Curry.

This Thursday a celebration of life ceremony will be conducted for Treat at 10 a.m. at Flathead High School Legends Field in Kalispell.

In lieu of flowers, the family has set up a scholarship fund with Flathead High School Athletic Division – in memory of Treat. Memorial donations checks can be made to Kalispell Public Schools, in memory of Brad Treat and mailed to Glacier Bank, 202 Main Street, Kalispell, Montana, 59901.

— Sam Wilson of the Daily Inter Lake contributed to this story.