Billings Hunter Injured During Bear Attack

A Billings hunter who was recovering in hospital after being attacked by a bear Friday afternoon has been released.

A man who was out hunting in the south end of the Gravelly Range was knocked down by a bear. The man was taken to hospital in Idaho Falls.

In this incident it doesn’t appear that the man was bitten or clawed in the encounter, simply that he was run over by the bear. After the bear had knocked the hunter down, the bear ran away without any further harm.

As Gravelly Range is heavy with bear activity hunters are urged to take the necessary precautions to ensure their safety. Even though this incident didn’t prove harmful to either the bear or the man involved, it could have been under different circumstances.

In the past 13 months there have been reports of three hostile bear encounters in the area which is why those hunting should always have a form of self defense on hand.

However, while it may be easy to carry a firearm as a form of protection those who shoot at a bear may not achieve the results they want. This then presents an even greater threat as they are now faced with an injured and angry bear. In this situation the bear could just as easily take charge at the person concerned.

In order to avoid this and to prevent any harm coming to the bear hunters and hikers should consider arming themselves with bear spray. This self defense spray canister has become the ideal alternative to a traditional firearm, but is still powerful enough to stop a bear from attacking.

Not only that, but because it is non-lethal it won’t harm the bear, but will simply deter it once it has been sprayed in the bear’s face.

With bears increasingly coming into contact with humans as they are forced down to lower ground to find food, it is possible that a bear attack may happen. But, by being ready for such a scenario, particularly if you are in an area that homes bears then you will have a greater chance of escaping without any harm. Simply knowing that you have a form of self defense on hand will also give you the confidence to face a bear should you be confronted with one.

Of course, in order to effectively utilize your spray canister you should always make sure that it is in close range and not simply placed at the bottom of your backpack.