Wildlife officials killed a black bear in the Bob Marshall Wilderness on Sept. 14 after it attacked a man camping in the Black Bear Creek drainage south of Spotted Bear. FWP officials are calling the attack predatory in nature.

The man was reportedly inside a tent when the bear jumped on the tent and attacked him about 7:30 a.m. The man sprayed the bear with bear pepper spray and started to leave camp. He was later transported to Kalispell Regional Medical Center by the ALERT helicopter.

After the initial attack, the bear was able to obtain food items at the camp. FWP investigator Brian Sommers reports that pieces of Zip-Lock bags, dried pasta and other items were found in the bear’s stomach that were consistent with items found at the camp.

FWP spokesperson John Fraley said investigators aren’t sure exactly where the food the bear ate was located in the man’s camp.

Sommers noted that blood on the claws of the black bear has been swabbed and will be tested to see if it came from the man who was mauled.

The bear remained in the area until a U.S. Forest Service employee and other trail crew members arrived at the scene and chased it off.

“This was a predatory attack by this black bear,” Sommers said.

There is a food storage order in effect for all of the Flathead National Forest. This means all food should be secured from bears in hard-sided vehicles when in motor camps, properly hung from trees or stored in approved bear-proof containers while unattended in the backcountry.