Montana
Man shoots mama grizzly bear in Montana after officials say she charged him
Watch: Hiker films as grizzly bear gets dangerously close
A hiker at Glacier National Park in Montana shook in fear as a bear got within feet of her on a trail.
A man shot and killed a mama grizzly bear in Montana after state wildlife officials said she charged at him.
The man was “shed hunting,” or looking for antlers shed by deer, elk and other animals, when he saw the bear on a “brushy hillside,” according to a news release issued Monday by the Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks.
“As he was leaving the area, the bear charged him at close range,” the agency said. “He shot and killed the bear. Fortunately, the man was uninjured.”
Officials said the incident happened on Friday in north-central Montana near Dupuyer, about 70 miles south of the Canadian border.
Wildlife officials said it was an adult female bear that had “no history of conflict.” Officials also said the bear was estimated to be about 13 years old and about 250 pounds. They said a yearling cub was found unharmed at the site of the incident and that it was left alone.
According to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, a yearling is a young bear, older than a year old.
The Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks did not immediately respond to USA TODAY’s question Tuesday about whether the mama bear may have been defending her cub.
Officials say encounters with bears more likely
The agency said that grizzly bear populations have become denser and more widespread across the state, increasing the “likelihood that residents and recreationists will encounter them in more places each year.”
Although the number of grizzly bears has increased, they are still listed as threatened under the Endangered Species Act. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service says there are about 1,900 grizzly bears in the continental United States.
Other bear attacks and what to do
Back in July 2024, a 72-year-old man shot and killed another grizzly bear and was left seriously injured. Wildlife officials said the man was picking huckleberries alone on Flathead National Forest lands, when an adult female grizzly bear charged at him and attacked.
The National Park Service recommends keeping the following things in mind when exploring the backcountry:
- Be alert and aware of your surroundings and pay attention to signs.
- Make noise, especially in areas with limited visibility or when sound is muffled (e.g., near streams or when it is windy).
- Carry bear spray and know how to use it.
- Hike in big groups of three or more; avoid venturing into the wilderness alone.
- If you encounter a bear, do not run. Instead back away slowly.
- Immediately alert authorities if you see a bear.
- If you see cubs, be extra cautious. Mother bears are very protective of their young. Do not approach, touch or interact with cubs.
Contributing: Saman Shafiq, USA TODAY
Fernando Cervantes Jr. is a trending news reporter for USA TODAY. Reach him at fernando.cervantes@gannett.com and follow him on X @fern_cerv_.
HELENA, Mont — Gov. Greg Gianforte is backing a new effort to keep data centers from driving up Montanans’ power bills.
This week, Gianforte announced Montana is signing on to the Ratepayer Protection Pledge — an initiative endorsed by President Trump.
Several major technology companies like Amazon, Google, Meta, Microsoft, OpenAI, Oracle, and XAI first signed the pledge back in March.
The pledge comes as data center development continues to grow — raising questions about how much new energy will be needed and who will pay for it.
NBC Montana spoke with Julia Haggerty, professor of geography and department head of earth sciences at Montana State University, about whether Montana’s power grid is ready for that growth.
“Not without resolution of significant transmission bottlenecks and massive amounts of new generation. So, while our grid is adequately, relatively adequately equipped to serve the needs of our current load base, it’s definitely not equipped to accommodate the new demands without a lot of expansion,” she said.
According to the pledge, data center developers will pay for new power generation, and infrastructure needed to support their operations.
“It does align with ongoing regulatory efforts to ensure that the cost of new generation associated with data centers is borne by the developers of those data centers and not customers,” Haggerty said.
The governor’s office says Gianforte’s support of the pledge is designed to encourage responsible data center investments while protecting Montana ratepayers from long-term costs.
The Montana Lottery offers multiple draw games for those aiming to win big.
Here’s a look at July 7, 2026, results for each game:
Winning Mega Millions numbers from July 7 drawing
02-31-35-36-63, Mega Ball: 12
Check Mega Millions payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Big Sky Bonus numbers from July 7 drawing
09-21-24-29, Bonus: 15
Check Big Sky Bonus payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Millionaire for Life numbers from July 7 drawing
27-43-48-49-50, Bonus: 02
Check Millionaire for Life payouts and previous drawings here.
Feeling lucky? Explore the latest lottery news & results
When are the Montana Lottery drawings held?
- Powerball: 8:59 p.m. MT on Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday.
- Mega Millions: 9 p.m. MT on Tuesday and Friday.
- Lucky For Life: 8:38 p.m. MT daily.
- Lotto America: 9 p.m. MT on Monday, Wednesday and Saturday.
- Big Sky Bonus: 7:30 p.m. MT daily.
- Powerball Double Play: 8:59 p.m. MT on Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday.
- Montana Cash: 8 p.m. MT on Wednesday and Saturday.
- Millionaire for Life: 9:15 p.m. MT daily.
Missed a draw? Peek at the past week’s winning numbers.
This results page was generated automatically using information from TinBu and a template written and reviewed by a Great Falls Tribune editor. You can send feedback using this form.
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