Yet another encounter between a man and a grizzly bear took place over the weekend. The Wyoming Game and Fish Department (WGF) stated via a news release that on August 5, a “man sustained injuries when he encountered a single grizzly bear at close range while conducting survey work in the Sheridan Creek drainage the morning of August 5.”
The incident took place in the Shoshone National Forest northwest of Dubois.
According to the information released by the WGF, the man was able to leave the scene after the encounter and call 911. The Fremont County Sheriff’s Office as well as an ambulance responded and the WGF interviewed the man before he was taken to an area hospital.
Through the use of a drone, the WGF surveyed the area and found no sign of the bear. According to information extrapolated from the interview, the incident occurred too quickly for the man to use bear spray and once the animal made contact, the man covered his head and neck and did not fight back.
According to the news release, “the wounds sustained by the victim and behavior of the bear are indicative of an aggressive defensive encounter at close range. Due to the surprise nature of the encounter, there are no further management actions planned.”
The attack is the latest in a summer filled with clashes between bears and humans in the region this summer. Just last week, black bears were lethally removed after attacking a man at his Teton County home.
A Montana woman was found dead in the Yellowstone area on July 22 after an encounter and a man mistakenly shot and killed a grizzly in early June in North Idaho.
Yet another grizzly was found dead after seemingly being shot from a car near the roadside in May.
Jason Hunter, Lander Regional Wildlife Supervisor commented on the most recent situation.
“First and foremost, we want to wish the individual a quick and successful recovery,” he said. “His split-second reaction to this sudden, defensive encounter with a bear was the best possible response to this unfortunate situation. We want to think the Fremont County Sheriff’s Office and the Dubois Police Department for their on-the-ground support into the investigation.”
