Posted on 07/18/2025 11:44:53 AM PDT by nickcarraway
A grizzly bear charged a man near his residence along Foothill Road east of Kalispell on the night of July 10, 2025.
According to Montana Fish, Wildlife, and Parks, the person heard a disturbance outside and discovered the bear getting into a chicken coop.
The bear charged at him, and the man shot and killed it. The man was not injured in the encounter.
The U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service is investigating the incident.
This is at least the fifth such incident in recent weeks:
A man shot and killed a grizzly bear that was threatening him on the northeast side of the Bears Paw Mountains south of Havre on Wednesday, June 11, 2025. FWP said the man heard a disturbance with his dogs and when he opened the door to his porch, he encountered the bear and shot it. The man was not injured in the encounter. No other details have been released. Though grizzly bears aren’t common in the Bears Paw Mountains, sightings have increased in the region in recent years. According to FWP, this is the first lethal removal by a landowner in this area.
State wildlife officials say that a grizzly bear was shot after it charged a man between Condon and Seeley Lake in the Swan Valley in early June. The man heard noises outside his residence and "disturbances" with his livestock and dogs on the night of Tuesday, June 3, according to Montana Fish, Wildlife, and Parks. He walked outside to check on his animals and the bear charged at him. The man shot and killed the bear; the man was not hurt.
Two landowners were picking mushrooms about a mile north of Choteau on Wednesday, May 21, 2025, when they were charged by an adult female grizzly bear. FWP said the men shot and killed the bear at close range, and fortunately, they were not injured during the encounter. FWP says the bear had a cub at the time of the encounter and they working to capture the cub so that it can be cared for. FWP director Christy Clark said, "I spoke to John and Justin shortly after the incident and they were both still shook up. They told me their story and it was clear it was very traumatic. What’s important here is they’re okay.”
Near Dupuyer on April 11, a man shot and killed a charging grizzly bear. The man was searching for antlers on a brushy hillside when he saw a bear. As he was leaving the area, the bear charged him at close range; he shot and killed the bear. Fortunately, the man was not injured. FWP says that the bear was an adult female grizzly in good condition with no history of conflict and was estimated to be 13 years old, and weighed about 250 pounds. The bear had a single yearling cub that was found on site, unharmed. No management action will be taken for the yearling.
FWP tips for hunting and recreating in bear country
Carry bear spray close at hand and know how to use it. Make noise to alert bears of your presence and travel and hunt in groups when possible.
Be extra cautious around creeks, and in areas with limited visibility. Most attacks happen in surprise, close encounters.
Watch for signs of bears such as scat, diggings, torn-up logs and turned over rocks, and partly consumed animal carcasses, and be extra aware or avoid these areas. Stay away from animal carcasses, which often attract bears. If field dressing an animal, bring what is needed to remove the meat from the kill site as soon as possible and have bear spray close at hand.
If you need to leave the meat in the field during retrieval, hang it at least 10 feet of the ground and at least 150 yards from the gut pile. Leave it where it can be observed from a distance of at least 200 yards.
Upon your return, observe with binoculars first. Make noise when approaching, and if anything has been disturbed by a bear, leave and call FWP. Visit fwp.mt.gov/bear-aware for more information on living, working, and recreating in bear country.
Better to be alive and investigated than dead after obeying all regulations.
How much did he charge him for?.............
GMTA do they take plastic?
Carry a reliable firearm and know how to use it.
They are the best item to have to stop a bear from hurting year.
Is the bear ok, Yogi?......Yogi?.........
They don’t mention the type/caliber of firearm used.
I suspect it was a rifle or 12 gauge.
My choice, like so many others, is the 12 gauge.
I would only use ANY pistol if I didn’t have anything else.
I had a hurting year awhile back until I got knee replacements:)
250 pounds? It must have been starving to death.
I’m surprised liberals haven’t tried to make killing attacking animals become a criminal offense. They can’t help following their instincts so they aren’t at fault. And they are obviously correct to assume the human is a threat, look at what happened!
5% discount for cash..................
I have heard of people carrying a .25 ACP calibre Raven semi auto pistol for protection. Seems too light.
And now will be charged with hunting without a license, which happened to this lady who shot a cougar that broke into her house.
“250 pounds? It must have been starving to death.”
Not really that low. Too early to fatten up for hibernation.
Bells and Spray....
No mention of Hard Cast Buffalo Bore !?!
.
Bells and Spray sounds like TinkerBell.
.357 Buffalo Bore Outdoorsman Hard Cast is reputed to drill a 4.5 foot hole through any living thing.
I can’t believe no one has pinged Mark Twain yet!
I have shot bears with rifles, shotguns, and a couple different handgun calibers.
If one knew he was going to be attack by a bear one wouldn’t go.
Handguns are handy that they can be with you where as a shotgun or rifle,
Is easily put down and walked away from
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