Two men were picking mushrooms in Montana when a grizzly bear charged at them, wildlife officials said.
They shot and killed her Wednesday near Choteau, the Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks said in a news release obtained by McClatchy News.
The grizzly bear was with her cub when she rushed toward the men, wildlife officials said.
The two were still “shook up” from the encounter when they spoke to the agency’s director, Christy Clark, on the phone, according to the release.
“They told me their story and it was clear it was very traumatic. What’s important here is they’re OK,” Clark said in the release.
Wildlife officials are now looking for the cub.
Grizzly bears are native to Montana, but their numbers have greatly dwindled, wildlife officials said.
Because of this, they are protected at a 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 four documented grizzly bear deaths in the state, including this latest death, according to grizzly bear mortality data.
A male grizzly 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.
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