Officials search for grizzly bear that attacked hunter near Montana's Yellow Mule Trail

A grizzly bear attacked a hunter who was tracking a deer in the Custer Gallatin National Forest in Montana on Friday, forcing authorities to close part of the forest.

The hunter was hospitalized for treatment from their injuries.

Gallatin County Sherriff Search and Rescue officials said the Madison County dispatch received a call from a hunting party around 1:50 p.m. Friday after one of their hunters was attacked by a grizzly bear near Yellow Mule Trail, about 50 miles southwest of Bozeman, Montana.

The hunter shot at the bear and likely wounded the animal before the attack, Custer Gallatin National Forest officials said in a Facebook post.

First responders arrived at the scene in a helicopter and the victim was later transported to a nearby hospital for further evaluation.

United States Forest Service Law Enforcement closed the Yellow Mule Trails and all access to Buck Ridge Trail while authorities searched for the wounded bear.

This attack follows recent bear attacks in the area this year.

Recent bear attacks in Montana

In July, a woman was found dead after being attacked by a bear. The attack happened on a trail near the Montana town of West Yellowstone, about 60 miles from the latest attack on Friday. Last week, that same bear was shot and killed after it broke into someone's house. Later, officials connected the bear to a killing that happened three years ago.

In a statement, Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks officials said the bear broke into the house through a kitchen window and stole some dog food from the home.

With authorization from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the bear was later shot, and its cub was captured.

After a genetic analysis, officials identified the bear as the one that attacked Amie Adamson, 48, in West Yellowstone in July. The bear was also linked to a bear attack in Idaho that injured a person near Henrys Lake State Park in 2020.

"Grizzly bear populations continue to become denser and more widespread in Montana, increasing the likelihood that residents and recreationists will encounter them in more places each year," Montana wildlife officials said.