A bear has been euthanized after exhibiting agressive behavior toward people in an area near the Montana-Canada border.
Cameron Lake is located mostly in Canada, but partially in Glacier County.
Full release from Parks Canada:
On the evening of May 24, 2025, Parks Canada received reports of a black bear approaching a hiker on the Cameron Lakeshore Trail. The bear exhibited unusual and aggressive behaviour towards humans, in a manner that was deemed not safe or manageable towards maintaining human-wildlife coexistence by a team of Parks Canada wildlife specialists.
Given the nature of the encounter, an area surrounding Cameron Lake and nearby trails were closed to visitors. The closure was lifted the morning of May 27, 2025.
After careful consideration and following standard human-wildlife coexistence procedures, the Parks Canada wildlife team located and euthanized a bear in the area of the incident, matching the description and exhibiting similar behaviours at approximately 5:45 p.m. on May 25, 2025. This action is always a last resort and will only be taken if necessary to do so in the interest of public safety.
Human and wildlife safety is of the utmost importance to Parks Canada. While this was an isolated incident, we want to remind visitors that wildlife and public safety is a shared responsibility – we all have a role to play.
Parks Canada takes action to promote coexistence between people and wildlife to ensure the well-being and safety of both. Wherever you recreate in Waterton Lakes, do so responsibly. Hike in groups, make noise and please remember to carry bear spray (in an easily accessible location on your body) and know how to use it!
Parks Canada also wants to remind all visitors in Waterton Lakes National Park to stay alert, keep food and garbage secure, never feed wildlife, not litter, respect all warnings and closures and give wildlife lots of space (30 metres, or 3 bus lengths for deer and sheep and 100 metres or 10 bus lengths for bears).
Everyone is asked to report bear sightings of concern immediately to Parks Canada Dispatch at 1-888-927-3367.
Wildlife Safety in Waterton Lakes: https://parks.canada.ca/…/securite-safety/faune-wildlife
