A grizzly bear (Photo by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service, Endangered Species Program via FLICKR | Creative Commons license).
Two hunters who were reportedly charged by a grizzly bear on Monday north of West Yellowstone shot and killed the bear and also shot and injured one of her cubs, Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks said on Friday.
The incident happened in Tepee Creek; the two hunters were not injured, spokesperson Morgan Jacobsen said. They reported being charged by the sow, who had two yearling cubs along with her.
FWP said the hunters shot and killed the sow with handguns and that the yearlings also charged the two people. One of them was shot and injured, Jacobsen said.
FWP bear specialists and game wardens, along with Custer Gallatin National Forest law enforcement, went to the site on Wednesday and confirmed the sow, an older female, was dead. They found evidence that one of the yearlings had been injured but did not locate either of the cubs.
FWP said it plans no further management actions but said the shooting is still under investigation by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
Montana’s archery season opened on Sept. 7, and while no other hunters have reported injuries in bear conflicts, and no other bears have been wounded or killed so far this season by hunters, FWP reminded hunters to carry bear spray, make noise and travel in groups, to avoid areas where close encounters with bears could occur, and to be aware of bear sign and how other animal calls could affect bear behavior.