Grizzly charges man checking on his animals outside home, Montana officials say
A grizzly bear charged a man who was checking on his animals on his northwest Montana property, wildlife officials said.
The man shot and killed the protected bear, the Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks said in a news release obtained by McClatchy News.
He had “heard noises” coming from his dogs and livestock outside of his home the night of June 3 in Flathead County, wildlife officials said.
Officials said he went to investigate, and a grizzly bear “charged at him,” so he killed it.
He was not injured in the incident, officials said.
Officials said the male bear was killed in “defense of life.”
Grizzly bears are native to Montana, but their numbers have greatly dwindled, wildlife officials said.
Because of this, they are protected at the state and federal level, making it illegal to “harm, harass, or kill grizzly bears, except in cases of self-defense or the defense of others.”
These bears have been listed as a threatened species by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service since 1975 in the lower 48 states.
So far in 2025, there have been at least six documented grizzly bear deaths in the state, including this latest death, according to grizzly bear mortality data.
Some of those deaths include a male grizzly that was killed by a car May 15 in Gallatin County. Another was wrongly identified and killed April 23 in Carbon County.
Before that, a female grizzly died April 11 in Teton County, and its death is still under investigation.
What to do if you see a bear
Bear attacks in the U.S. are rare, according to the National Park Service. In most attacks, bears are trying to defend their food, cubs or space.
There are steps people can take to help prevent a bear encounter from becoming a bear attack.
Identify yourself: Talk calmly and slowly wave your arms. This can help the bear realize you’re a human and nonthreatening.
Stay calm: Bears usually don’t want to attack; they want to be left alone. Talk slowly and with a low voice to the bear.
Don’t scream: Screaming could trigger an attack.
Pick up small children: Don’t let kids run away from the bear. It could think they’re small prey.
Hike in groups: A group is noisier and smellier, the National Park Service said. Bears like to keep their distance from groups of people.
Make yourself look big: Move to higher ground and stand tall. Don’t make any sudden movements.
Don’t drop your bag: A bag on your back can keep a bear from accessing food, and it can provide protection.
Walk away slowly: Move sideways so you appear less threatening to the bear. This also lets you keep an eye out.
Again, don’t run: Bears will chase you, just like a dog would.
Don’t climb trees: Grizzlies and black bears can also climb.
This story was originally published June 9, 2025 at 11:36 AM with the headline "Grizzly charges man checking on his animals outside home, Montana officials say."
