Flathead Valley man kills charging grizzly along Foothill Road
Bigfork Eagle | UPDATED 4 months, 4 weeks AGO
A stock image shows a grizzly bear. (Pixabay)
A Flathead Valley man shot and killed a grizzly bear earlier this month after it charged him near his residence along Foothill Road east of Kalispell, according to Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks.
The landowner on July 10 heard a disturbance outside and discovered the bear getting into a chicken coop. The bear approached him, and he shot and killed it, the state agency said.
The man was uninjured in the encounter. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is investigating the incident.
Bear safety tips
Carry bear spray and be prepared to use it immediately.
Keep garbage, bird feeders, pet food and other attractants put away in a secure building. Keep garbage in a secure building until the day it is collected. Certified bear-resistant garbage containers are available in many areas.
Travel in groups whenever possible and make casual noise, which can help alert bears to your presence.
Stay away from animal carcasses, which often attract bears.
Follow food storage orders from the applicable land management agency.
If you encounter a bear, never approach it. Leave the area when it is safe to do so.
Never feed wildlife. Bears that become food conditioned lose their natural foraging behavior and pose threats to human safety. It is illegal to feed bears in Montana.