Four Bear Shooting Incidents in Montana

In the past week, four bears were shot in claimed bear attacks in Montana.   There are few details at this time.  The black bear shooting has been ruled self defense, while the three grizzly shootings are still under investigation.  It does not appear that any of the shooters were hurt, so all four gun uses appear to have been effective.  No bear spray was reported used at this time.  

In this article, the grizzly shooting is still under investigation, while the black bear shooting has been ruled self defense.

The grizzly was shot and killed in a remote area south of the Ruby Reservoir on Monday, the same day a female black bear was killed by a hunter near Silver Star.

(snip) 

 Authorities determined the hunter who shot the black bear acted defensively. He reported the bear's cubs were in a tree and that she charged him.

In the next reported shooting, the bear ran after being shot, but was found later, dead.

 GREAT FALLS (AP) — State wildlife officials say a grizzly bear wounded by an elk hunter in the Badger-Two Medicine area southeast of Glacier National Park was found dead about 150 yards from where it was shot and about the same distance from a moose carcass.

A third grizzly defensive shooting occurred northeast of Thompson Falls.  The shooting is still under investigation:

KALISPELL (AP) — State wildlife officials are investigating a report that someone shot a male grizzly bear in self-defense.

Fish, Wildlife and Parks officials say the bear was shot in the Lower Thompson River area northeast of Thompson Falls on Oct. 26. The person who shot the grizzly reported the shooting.

Because of the ongoing investigations, we have few details at this time.  Four defensive bear shootings in a week is the most that I have ever heard reported from one state.  Two of the shootings, one grizzly and the black bear, involved sows with cubs.  There may be more defensive shootings in Alaska, but if there are, they are not reported.


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