US state of Montana: Grizzly bear kills man near Yellowstone Park

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Grizzly in Yellowstone Park (symbol image)

Photo: Jim Urquhart / AP

In the immediate vicinity of the world-famous Yellowstone National Park, there has been a fatal attack by a grizzly bear.

The animal attacked a 40-year-old who was alone in the impassable area.

As things stand, the experienced wilderness guide came across the bear on a fishing trip.

This may have wanted to defend the carcass of an elk.

Game rangers found the elk remains less than 50 meters from the site of the attack.

The Guardian, among others, reported on the case

In the attack, the 40-year-old suffered serious injuries to his face and head.

Nevertheless, he made an emergency call and was transported by snowmobile to a waiting ambulance.

The man died in hospital two days after the attack.

According to the police, he had used a special spray to repel bears.

After the attack, a group of seven, including game rangers, investigated the scene.

They too were attacked by the bear, but were able to kill the animal with several shots.

The male grizzly weighed around 200 kilograms.

Investigators are certain that it is the same animal as the original attack.

Predator population has recovered

In the Yellowstone area, which stretches over parts of the states of Montana, Idaho and Wyoming, it is estimated that around 700 grizzlies live.

Serious attacks by the predators are comparatively rare; there have been eight fatal incidents since 2010.

The last time a man died in Wyoming was in 2018 after being attacked by a grizzly.

The species had been brought to the brink of extinction by hunters and trappers.

Grizzlies have been protected in the USA since 1975, with brief interruptions.

In mid-2020, a US court stopped the US Fish and Wildlife Service's plan to re-issue grizzly hunting licenses, at least in the Yellowstone area.

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