A woman was discovered dead following a grizzly bear encounter on a trail near West Yellowstone.
The incident took place in the Custer Gallatin National Forest, a few miles west of Yellowstone National Park.
On Saturday, July 22, the discovery prompted a response from Montana’s Fish, Wildlife, and Parks Department. Investigators identified grizzly bear tracks at the scene, suggesting the woman had an encounter with the bear. However, the exact cause of her death is yet to be confirmed.
In light of the incident, rangers closed the area, a popular spot for hikers. This event underscores the growing challenges posed by Montana’s burgeoning grizzly bear population and the rise in sightings.
Only a week before, the Fish, Wildlife, and Parks Department had issued a warning about confirmed grizzly bear sightings throughout the state. This was particularly the case in regions between the Northern Continental Divide and the Greater Yellowstone ecosystems. They recommended that campers and park visitors carry bear spray, secure their food while outdoors, and dispose of garbage properly.
Fatal grizzly bear encounters are infrequent, but Montana’s human population has grown by up to a third over the past decade in areas known for their bear populations. This increase, particularly in the southwest, has led to a surge in human-grizzly bear encounters.
Regrettably, similar incidents have occurred in the past. In July of the previous year, a grizzly bear attacked and killed a person at a campground in western Montana. In April of the same year, a backcountry guide tragically lost their life to a grizzly bear while fishing near the border of Yellowstone National Park.