While impressive berry crops have kept bears at higher elevations this fall, there still have been a number of incidents involving people and bruins.

In Montana, two occurred in the Taylor Fork area south of Big Sky, but no one was injured.

The first, Sept. 29, involved two hunters. According to Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks, they were hunting in the vicinity of a known elk carcass when they saw a grizzly bear. To make their presence known, the hunters yelled at the bear. The bear reportedly came toward the hunters and they each fired once with handguns. Both the bear and the hunters left the site without further incident.

Montana FWP staff learned of the encounter on Oct. 1, and after interviewing the hunters, determined it was unlikely the bear was injured.

On Oct. 3, a lone hunter reportedly encountered a grizzly bear at close range. The bear charged and the hunter deployed bear spray, which stopped the charge. The hunter left the area and reported the incident to FWP.

Across the border in Canada, there have been a three incidents involving bears and people between Sept. 29 and Oct. 8.

According to British Columbia’s Conservation Officer Service, it investigated an attack Sept. 29 near Fort St. James after a hunter was charged by a grizzly sow with a cub and bitten on the ankle. The bear dropped the hunter, who was able to seek medical help.

The incident was deemed defensive—the mother bear because she was protecting its cub. 

Three days later on Oct. 2 near Fort Steele, 2 1/2 hours north of Libby, a hunter was seriously injured after an encounter with a grizzly sow and cubs. The person was airlifted for medical treatment.

The next day, Oct. 3, provincial conservation officers and Royal Canadian Mounted Police members investigated the site. Preliminary findings suggest the bears may have been drawn to a hunter that was elk calling. It appears that the hunter was able to fire one shot in self defense but it is unknown if the bear was hit. 

A drone with infrared capabilities was used and was unable to locate any bears. Conservation officers conducted low level helicopter flights and were not able to locate any bears and ground sweeps of the area also did not locate any bears. 

According to a Canadian Broadcasting Corporation report on Oct. 4, the hunter was in stable condition. Officers say they have not yet spoken with him due to the extent of his injuries. The report said the area is heavily hunted for elk.

Then, on Oct. 8, a woman was attacked by a female black bear with cubs while walking her dog in the Wildlife Management Area in Squasmish, an hour north of Vancouver, B.C. She sustained a minor injury. 

In Yellowstone National Park on Sept. 30, a 29-year-old man was attacked by a bear while hiking on the Turbid Lake Trail, located northeast of Mary Bay in Yellowstone Lake.

According to a news release from Yellowstone National Park, the incident occurred approximately 2.5 miles from the Pelican Valley Trailhead in the Pelican Valley Bear Management Area.

Park rangers say the man was hiking alone when he encountered the bear near Turbid Lake. The hiker began to deploy bear spray when the bear made contact, and he sustained significant but non-life-threatening injuries to his chest and left arm.

The hiker thought the bear was a black bear; however, the location, size, and behavior of the described bear suggest it might have been a grizzly bear. Bear management staff will attempt to confirm the species through DNA analysis, if possible. It was the first bear attack in Yellowstone since 2021.

In Fremont County, Idaho, a hiker was injured in a bear attack near Squirrel Creek on Sept. 30. 

The hiker, an adult male, was traveling alone on the South rim of Squirrel Creek when a bear charged at him through the thick timber from a short distance away. The bear bit the man as it ran past him and continued on into the forest. Despite his injuries, the man was able to hike out on his own to seek medical attention. 

Wildlife officials explained that fall hunting seasons overlap with when bears are actively preparing for hibernation. Some areas with dense concentrations of grizzly bears are very accessible to hunters, especially during the archery season. 

Avoiding conflicts with bears is far better than dealing with conflicts. Here are some precautions to help hunters avoid negative bear encounters:

- Carry bear spray and be prepared to use it immediately.

- Watch for and be extra cautious around bear sign, creeks and areas with limited visibility. Most attacks happen in surprise, close encounters.

- Stay away from animal carcasses, which often attract bears.

- Hunt with a group of people. This can help you make localized noise to alert bears to your presence, and it may also increase your chances of survival in the event of a bear attack.

- Be aware that elk calls and cover scents can attract bears.

- Bring the equipment and people needed to help field dress game and remove the meat from the kill site quickly.

- If you need to leave part of the meat in the field during retrieval, hang it at least 10 feet off the ground, if possible, and at least 100 yards from the gut pile. Leave it in an open area where it can be observed from a distance of at least 200 yards.

 - Upon your return, observe the meat with binoculars. Make noise while approaching the meat. If it has been disturbed or if a bear is in the area, leave and call FWP.

- Follow food storage orders from the applicable land management agency.

To learn more about how to be safe in bear country, visit https://fwp.mt.gov/conservation/wildlife-management/bear.