Last week a mountain biker was forced to use his bear spray on a grizzly while riding on the Starry Goat Trail near the town of Troy, Montana. He recently recounted the story in a video with Montana Fish, Wildlife, and Parks.
Upon noticing the bear approaching along the trailhead, the biker dismounted and retrieved a can of bear spray placed in his bike’s water bottle cage. When the bear came within range, the man discharged the spray and the bear reacted immediately. It retreated around 20 yards into the woods where it sat at the base of a tree.
The biker was able to ride away without further incident and no injuries were reported. While the species remains unconfirmed, the biker believes it was a grizzly bear. The Starry Goat Trail is still open though users are urged to remain cautious.
Bears can be anywhere in Montana, and recreators are encouraged to plan ahead for encounters and always be prepared. That means carrying bear spray in an accessible place with the knowledge to use it. Read more on bear encounters in Montana below.
Montana Fish, Wildlife, and Parks Bear Encounter Guidelines:
Plan Ahead
- Be prepared to deal with bear encounters.
- Carry bear spray in an accessible place and know how to use it.
- Both grizzly bears and black bears pose a threat. In an encounter, the bear’s behavior, rather than its species, should determine how you respond.
- In any bear encounter, your behavior matters. Bears respond to your actions.
During an encounter with a bear
- Never run away. You cannot outrun a bear. Running may trigger a bear to chase.
- Never approach the bear
- Different situations call for different responses.
- If you see a bear at a distance, the bear appears unaware of you and you can move away undetected, do so quietly when the bear is not looking toward you.
- If you cannot avoid a bear that sees you, stand your ground and watch its behavior. Move away when it disengages.
