Topline
A female hiker was found dead on the Buttermilk Trail near West Yellowstone, Montana, Saturday morning after what officials believe was a grizzly bear attack, the Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks said Monday morning.
Adult grizzly bear roaming in Yellowstone National Park near where an apparent bear attack occurred … [+]
Key Facts
The woman was found with wounds “consistent with a bear attack” near tracks from an adult grizzly bear and at least one cub, the department said.
Officials believe she was alone and said they found no bear spray or firearms at the scene.
Following the discovery, the Custer Gallatin National Forest temporarily closed due to bear safety concerns, forest officials announced.
Because the incident occurred nearby homes, the department said it began attempting to capture the bear, but has found no bears as of Monday morning.
News Peg
This is the latest in a series of unfortunate incidents involving wildlife in the western U.S. Just one week prior, a woman was gored by a bison during a visit to Yellowstone National Park, resulting in serious injuries to her abdomen and chest, the National Park Service said. That woman was airlifted to a hospital in eastern Idaho and survived. In June, an Arizona man was attacked and killed by a male black bear near his home before a neighbor shot and killed it, the Yavapai County Sheriff’s Office said. The bear dragged the man about 75 feet down an embankment in what officials called a “highly uncommon” attack. In the San Juan National Forest in Colorado last week, a 35-year-old sheep herder was attacked and severely injured by a bear while working, according to the Colorado Parks and Wildlife Department. The man suffered bite wounds to his head, additional wounds to his hand and arm, severe lacerations around his left hip and scratches on his back, officials said.
Big Number
8. That’s how many people across the U.S. die each year after being attacked or bitten by all wildlife, while 47,000 people require medical attention from wildlife injuries, researchers at Utah State University estimate. However, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service notes that conflicts with bears can be avoided with basic safety guidelines, including staying at least 100 yards away, keeping food out of reach when in bear territory (that might include using a bear-proof box) and bringing bear spray.
Tangent
Grizzly bears are a protected subspecies under the Endangered Species Act in all lower 48 states. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service—which is assisting Montana officials in investigating this apparent attack—is responsible for managing grizzly bear populations in partnership with the Interagency Grizzly Bear Committee, which brings together national, state and local agencies.
Further Reading
Woman Dead In Apparent Grizzly Attack Near Yellowstone (Cowboy State Daily)
Bison Gores Woman At Yellowstone Amid Repeated Warnings And Close Calls (Forbes)
U.S. Forest Service Temporarily Closes Portion Of Appalachian Trail Because Of Aggressive Bears (Forbes)
Source: https://www.forbes.com/sites/willskipworth/2023/07/24/woman-found-dead-after-apparent-bear-attack-in-montana/