Montana man shoots and kills grizzly bear in self-defense after attack

In Montana, a 72-year-old man picking huckleberries shot and killed a grizzly bear after it attacked him, leaving him with significant injuries that required hospitalization. The bear, an adult female, likely acted defensively to protect her cubs. Wildlife officials are trying to confirm the presence of cubs in the area, with plans to possibly leave them in the wild if found. In a separate incident, a different adult female grizzly was shot and killed near Gardiner after becoming accustomed to seeking out food from people and breaking into houses. This bear was shot in the Yellowstone River after posing a threat to human safety. Grizzlies in the region are listed as threatened under the Endangered Species Act, with some officials pushing for their protected status to be lifted, potentially allowing for hunting in the future. The attacks highlight the complex interactions between humans and grizzly bears in the region, with wildlife officials making decisions to protect both species.

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