A bowhunter in Idaho was attacked by a grizzly bear Sunday whereas elk searching with a pal on public land. The bowhunter was injured however survived the assault, and officers say the 2 males have been capable of shoot and kill the grownup boar with their sidearms. Conservation officers decided via an investigation that the hunters acted in self-defense, in line with the Idaho Division of Fish and Recreation. Neither hunter has been publicly recognized but.
IDFG says the “shock encounter” occurred Sunday morning on the Caribou-Targhee Nationwide Forest. The 2 hunters have been looking for elk west of Henrys Lake in Island Park, which lies simply to the west of Yellowstone Nationwide Park and within the coronary heart of grizzly nation. They encountered the bear round 7 a.m. close to the Divide Creek Highway, in line with East Idaho Information.
That’s when “one of many hunters was knocked down and bitten by the bear,” in line with a press release from IDFG. Each males then drew their sidearms and shot the bear “from a really shut distance,” killing it. It’s unclear what sort of handguns they used, and an IDFG spokesperson was unable to offer any further particulars in regards to the incident to Out of doors Life on Tuesday.
The hunters then known as 911. The bowhunter who was bitten was transported out of the woods by way of helicopter to Japanese Idaho Regional Medical Heart, the place he was handled for non-life-threatening accidents.
Idaho’s grizzly bears stay protected underneath state and federal legislation. However since investigators decided that the lads shot the bear “in defense-of-life,” which is permitted underneath Idaho legislation, neither hunter will face fees or penalties for killing the grizzly.
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“I’m extraordinarily grateful that each of those people survived this encounter,” mentioned IDFG regional supervisor Matt Pieron. “I’ve had the chance to talk with the injured hunter and his household and they’re really great folks. I want him a speedy restoration from his accidents and the trauma these two hunters skilled.”
Pieron additionally instructed East Idaho Information that Sunday’s incident is the primary time this 12 months {that a} grizzly has attacked a human within the space. It’s removed from the primary encounter, nonetheless, and Pieron mentioned it’s been “a really busy 12 months for grizzly bear exercise, particularly with cattle battle.”
In Might, IDFG officers labored with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to euthanize a sow grizzly and two cubs in Island Park that had change into meals conditioned and have been appearing aggressively towards people. And on June 6, a person in Island Park shot and killed a charging grizzly bear in self-defense whereas unloading groceries in his driveway.
Pieron defined that this quantity of battle is unsurprising given the variety of grizzlies that inhabit the Better Yellowstone Ecosystem, which is one among six grizzly bear restoration zones established by the USFWS and is residence to greater than 700 grizzlies. This inhabitants can also be increasing. Earlier this summer season, IDFG confirmed a grizzly bear west of I-15 for the primary time for the reason that species was reintroduced in Yellowstone Nationwide Park.
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“We definitely have a rising grizzly bear inhabitants throughout the Better Yellowstone Ecosystem,” Pieron mentioned, “and what we’ve been seeing right here is consistent with that.”
Pieron added that Sunday’s assault doubtless would have been far worse had the bowhunter been by himself.
“They have been searching collectively, and they also have been capable of come to one another’s help,” Pieron mentioned. “It’s all the time a good suggestion to be in not less than pairs — if no more — which is only a actually good rule of thumb within the backcountry interval, whether or not you’re searching or doing something in grizzly bear nation.”