Wildlife officials and the local Blackfoot Valley community are working together to wrap up details of the July 6th fatal grizzly bear attack of a camper in Ovando, Montana. A cross-country cyclist camping near friends was attacked and killed as she slept in her tent by what was confirmed to have been a grizzly bear in the central Montana community.
On July 14th, DNA results confirmed that a bear killed by wildlife officials was the same bear that fatally attacked Leah Davis Lokan of Chico, California. The tragic event brought community members and wildlife officials together to respond, collect information and discuss next steps. Wildlife officials from Fish Wildlife and Parks, the US Fish and Wildlife Service and Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services have put together more details from the case indicating the 417-pound male grizzly was 6 years old. It was a healthy weight but lean, which is typical of bears at this point in the summer season, just before they begin heavily foraging in preparation for a long winter with minimal food.
The bear had no history of conflicts but was likely drawn to town in search of food. Wildlife officials say grizzly bears are common in the Blackfoot Valley, but events that result in human injury or death are extremely rare. The only other fatal attack by a grizzly bear in the Blackfoot Valley over the past 50 years involved an elk hunter in 2001.
