Cover Photo Credit: Diliff
While western Montana mourns the loss of one of its beloved US Forest Service law enforcement officers, new information is keeping wildlife officials from euthanizing the bear responsible.
Related: Grizzly Kills Mountain Biker Outside Glacier National Park
The Flathead Beacon is saying that Brad Treat was riding a trail when he collided with the bear, which eventually triggered the bear’s fatally aggressive behavior. On Saturday, Montana Fish, Wildlife, and Parks officials released a press release concerning the attack and trigger saying, “Sight visibility at the location of the collision is very limited and the collision was unavoidable,” to which the organization added, “The bear reacted which led to the attack.”
Initial reports indicated the bear was a grizzly but DNA samples have yet to confirm that information. Some officials believe it could have been a black bear, although black bear attacks are much more rare. In the meantime, wildlife officials are removing traps and cameras from the area in question.
Find the entire Flathead Beacon article here: West Glacier Cyclist Collided with Bear Before Fatal Attack