Friday morning’s mauling of a man by a black bear in the Bob Marshall Wilderness was “a predatory attack” that led to the bear being promptly destroyed, a responding Fish, Wildlife and Parks investigator said.

Since Friday, more evidence has been analyzed, indicating the bear that was shot was correctly identified by a Wildlife-Human Attack Response team that went to the Black Bear Creek campsite in the South Fork Flathead drainage.

Warden Sgt. Jon Obst, who interviewed the man who was attacked, said the 185-pound, 5-year-old bear jumped on the tent at about 7:30 a.m., collapsing it and tearing through the fabric before mauling the man, who was camping alone.

Fish, Wildlife and Parks officials refused to identify the camper, his age or where he was from.

The man was able to spray the animal with bear spray and it ceased its attack, but it remained in the area.

“This was a predatory attack by this black bear,” Fish, Wildlife and Parks investigator Brian Sommers said.

Wade Muelhof, a public information officer for the Flathead National Forest, said the mauling victim soon encountered a Forest Service trail crew that had been staying at the Forest Service’s Black Bear Cabin. 

The crew was able to chase the bear off and radio for help. 

The ALERT helicopter flew into the South Fork at about 9 a.m. and returned to Kalispell Regional Medical Center with the mauling victim at about 10:30 a.m. 

The response team was flown into the Black Bear Creek area and located the bear at around 1:30 p.m.

Sommers said the bear displayed behavior consistent with food conditioning and habituation. It was dispatched about 70 yards from the scene of the attack as it was moving back toward the mangled tent.

A necropsy performed on the bear found pieces of plastic bags, dried pasta and other food items in its stomach that were consistent with items found at the camp. Pepper spray was evident on its fur, and blood on its claws is being tested to confirm a connection to the victim.

After the bear was dispatched, all items at the camp were loaded into a helicopter and flown out. Items were returned to the family of the man, who is recovering from the attack.

Reporter Jim Mann may be reached at 758-4407 or by email at jmann@dailyinterlake.com.