A mountain biker safely managed a close encounter with a bear while riding on the Starry Goat Trail on national forestland near Troy last week.
The incident occurred when the biker, riding alone, noticed a bear approaching along the trail. The biker quickly dismounted, retrieved bear spray from his bike’s water bottle cage, and discharged it when the bear came within range. The bear reacted immediately, retreating approximately 20 yards into the woods. The bear sat at the base of a tree and the biker rode off without further incident. Thankfully, no injuries were reported. The bear’s exact species remains unconfirmed, though the biker believed it was a grizzly bear based on its characteristics.
The Starry Goat Trail, located off Callahan Creek Road west of Troy, remains open but users are urged to remain cautious of possible bear activity. Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks staff set up cameras on the trail to try and identify the bear but did not see any activity and recently pulled the cameras.
Be bear aware
Montana is bear country. Avoiding conflicts with bears is easier than dealing with conflicts. Here are some precautions to help recreationists avoid negative bear encounters:
- Carry bear spray in an accessible place and know how to use it.
- Stay alert and look for bear activity, especially where visibility or hearing is limited (woods, bushy areas, streams)
- Anyone traveling quickly (mountain biker, trail runner) can be at high risk of surprising a bear.
- Slow down and look ahead, especially in areas of dense vegetation, berry patches, and around blind corners.
- Ride or run in daylight and in groups.
- Make noise! Let bears hear you, especially where visibility is limited.
For more information and resources on bear safety, visit fwp.mt.gov/conservation/wildlife-management/bear.
Source: Montana FWP
Photo: Pixabay
