Grizzly Bear Kills Mountain Biker Near West Glacier

[Ptah]

A West Glacier man was killed by a grizzly bear Wednesday afternoon while riding his mountain bike on a forested trail in the Halfmoon Lakes area south of Glacier National Park.

Flathead County Sheriff Chuck Curry identified the victim as Brad Treat, 38, of West Glacier. Treat grew up in Kalispell and graduated from Flathead High School, where he was a standout distance runner, in 1996.

Authorities have closed the area around Halfmoon Lakes as the investigation continues. As of 8:30 p.m., the bear that attacked Treat had not been found.

Treat and another man were mountain biking on U.S. Forest Service land near Halfmoon Lakes on Wednesday, according to Curry. The initial investigation suggests the two bikers surprised the bear around 2 p.m. and Treat was taken off his bike by the animal. The second rider was able to escape uninjured and summon help.

http://flatheadbeacon.com/2016/06/29/grizzly-bear-kills-person-near-west-glacier/

[BlueMTexpat]

1. So sorry to see this.

I haven't seen a grizzly in or near GNP for years during my visits. They are magnificent creatures and generally prefer to avoid us as much as we want to avoid them.

These guys may have been too silent on the trail so that the bear didn't have time to get the f*** away. If one surprises a grizzly, it is indeed liable to attack. The fact that the body was still there when his companion and officials made it back to the site suggests that the bear was not attacking out of hunger and there is no mention of cubs nearby, which is usually the other circumstance that would provoke an attack. Perhaps there were cubs, but just out of sight ...

How sad for him and his family! It's also sad because he would have been grizzly-wise as a result of his employment and with better odds than those who don't know the multiple hazards of the back-country.

[JonathanRackham]

2. We share the earth.

All god's creatures big and small.

[Hoppy]

3. I guess this means the bear will have to be whacked?