From Fox News · Andrea Margolis · · 1m 30s
Mauled by a bear, then he drove himself home
A 20-year-old archery hunter survived a surprise bear attack near Augusta, Montana, then got behind the wheel himself.
In brief
A 20-year-old archery hunter survived a surprise bear attack near Augusta, Montana, then got behind the wheel himself. In a surprise bear encounter, playing dead is often the right call, and bears are especially active in fall while fattening up for winter. Originally reported by Fox News.
Attacked while archery hunting
On Monday morning, a hunter on state land near Elk Creek and Haystack Butte, south of Augusta, ran into a bear and was mauled.
“when he encountered the bear and was attacked”
He drove himself out
Badly hurt and alone, the man got in his vehicle and drove home. From there a private vehicle took him to Benefis Hospital in Great Falls.
“The hunter drove himself home after the attack”
He curled up and took it
Lewis and Clark County Sheriff Leo Dutton said the 20-year-old fell into a fetal position during the attack. His injuries were significant but not life-threatening.
“smacked him around and left”
Nobody knows the species
Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks says the bear has not been identified and the investigation is open. Grizzlies and black bears both range that country.
“The species of the bear involved is currently unknown”
Carcasses are the danger
FWP told hunters to pack meat out fast, hang what is left, and carry strong headlamps. Never butcher an animal at dusk without a plan for the dark.
“Avoid cutting up carcass at dusk or night”
A busy year for bears
A hiker survived a grizzly mauling on Glacier's Grinnell Glacier Trail in May. South Lake Tahoe police logged 174 bear calls this year against 97 last year.
“They are fattening up for winter. Heads up, hunters and fishermen.”
The short version
In a surprise bear encounter, playing dead is often the right call, and bears are especially active in fall while fattening up for winter.
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