72-year-old man picking berries in Montana kills grizzly bear who attacked him

A 72-year-old man shot and killed a grizzly bear in Montana in an encounter that left him seriously injured.

The man, who has not been identified, was picking huckleberries alone last Thursday on Flathead National Forest lands, about 2 miles north of Columbia Falls, when an adult female grizzly charged at him and attacked, Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks said Friday. Columbia Falls is a city of about 5,500 people in northwestern Montana, about 200 miles from Helena.

The man shot and killed the bear with a handgun in response, but not before he received significant injuries for which he had to be hospitalized.

"FWP determined it to be a surprise defensive encounter," the agency said, adding that it was working to confirm if any of the adult female's cubs were present in the area.

The man's condition, meanwhile, is not yet known and the agency did not immediately respond to USA TODAY's request for an update on his injuries or if any cubs were located near the scene of the encounter.

Bears in Montana

Montana is home to both the grizzly bears and the black bears, with the former being the official animal of the state.

Grizzlies are protected under both the state and federal law, while the black bears are managed as a game animal, according to Fish, Wildlife and Parks. It is legal to kill or attempt to kill a grizzly bear in self-defense, or if the bear is “in the act of attacking or killing” or “threatening to kill” people or livestock under current Montana law.

What to do in a bear encounter?

The park service recommends keeping the following things in mind when exploring backcountry:

• Be alert and aware of your surroundings and pay attention to signs.
• Make noise, especially in areas with limited visibility or when sound is muffled (e.g., near streams or when it is windy).
• Carry bear spray and know how to use it.
• Hike in big groups of three or more; avoid venturing into the wilderness alone.
• If you encounter a bear, do not run. Instead back away slowly.
• Immediately alert authorities if you see a bear.
• If you see cubs, be extra cautious. Mother bears are very protective of their young. Do not approach, touch or interact with cubs.

Saman Shafiq is a trending news reporter for USA TODAY. Reach her at sshafiq@gannett.com and follow her on X @saman_shafiq7.