YELLOWSTONE COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a deadly bear encounter near Yellowstone.
About 8 a.m. Saturday, game wardens with Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks were notified that a hiker had found a woman deceased on the trail, about 8 miles west of West Yellowstone, according to the Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks. Amie Adamson, 47, of Derby, Kansas was identified as the victim, according to her family.
She was believed to be alone during the encounter, and no bear spray or firearms were found at the scene.
Fish Wildlife and Parks wardens and bear specialists, along with staff from other agencies, found that Adamson had wounds consistent with a bear attack.
They also found tracks from an adult grizzly bear and at least one cub near the site. They did not see any bears or signs of a day bed or animal carcass during the investigation.
The Custer Gallatin National Forest implemented an emergency closure of the area as a safety precaution. FWP bear specialists and game wardens notified residents and visitors nearby of the bear activity and the U.S. Forest Service closure.
They then began conducting capture operations due to the incident’s proximity to residences, campgrounds and a high-use OHV trail system. No bears have been captured to date. FWP staff also searched the area from an aircraft and did not locate any bears.
In June, a bear attacked and killed a man at a campsite in central Arizona. That victim, 66-year-old Steven Jackson of Tucson, was at his campsite when the bear attack him in the morning, according to a media release from the Yavapai County Sheriff’s office.
On Sunday, the Custer Gallatin National Forest in Montana issued an emergency closure of the Buttermilk area for human safety..Generally, the Buttermilk Area Closure is located about 8 miles west of West Yellowstone.
It follows the Continental Divide Trail, Forest Service Trail #116, from the trailhead near Targhee Pass on Highway 20 south to the confluence with Cream Creek Road, Forest Service Road #1703 and Road 484. The area closure follows these roads to the east and north back to the Forest Service boundary just south of Highway 20 and to the west to connect with the Continental Divide Trail #116.
Bears can be found throughout Montana. In recent years, grizzly bear populations have expanded. Those venturing into the outdoors should “Be Bear Aware” by following precautionary step that include: Carry and know how to use bear spray; Travel in groups whenever possible and plan to be out in the daylight hour; Avoid carcass sites and concentrations of ravens and other scavengers; Watch for signs of bears such as bear scat, diggings, torn-up logs and turned over rocks, and partly consumed animal carcasses; Make noise, especially near streams or in thick forest where hearing and visibility are limited, to alert bears to your presence and Don't approach a bear.
Click here to learn more about bears in the wild.
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YELLOWSTONE COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a deadly bear encounter near Yellowstone.
On Saturday, a woman was found deceased on the Buttermilk Trail west of West Yellowstone following an apparent bear encounter, according to the Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks. Investigators confirmed grizzly bear tracks at the scene. Amie Adamson, 47, of Derby, Kansas was identified as the victim, according to her family.
In June, a bear attacked and killed a man at a campsite in central Arizona. That victim, 66-year-old Steven Jackson of Tucson, was at his campsite when the bear attack him in the morning, according to a media release from the Yavapai County Sheriff’s office.
Neighbors tried to help by making noises. But the bear was able to drag Jackson several yards in the campsite in the Groom Creek area about 100 miles north of Phoenix. A neighbor then shot and killed the bear, according to the Sheriff’s Office.
On Sunday, the Custer Gallatin National Forest in Montana issued an emergency closure of the Buttermilk area for human safety..Generally, the Buttermilk Area Closure is located about 8 miles west of West Yellowstone.
It follows the Continental Divide Trail, Forest Service Trail #116, from the trailhead near Targhee Pass on Highway 20 south to the confluence with Cream Creek Road, Forest Service Road #1703 and Road 484. The area closure follows these roads to the east and north back to the Forest Service boundary just south of Highway 20 and to the west to connect with the Continental Divide Trail #116.
Bears can be found throughout Montana. In recent years, grizzly bear populations have expanded. Those venturing into the outdoors should “Be Bear Aware” by following precautionary step that include: Carry and know how to use bear spray; Travel in groups whenever possible and plan to be out in the daylight hour; Avoid carcass sites and concentrations of ravens and other scavengers; Watch for signs of bears such as bear scat, diggings, torn-up logs and turned over rocks, and partly consumed animal carcasses; Make noise, especially near streams or in thick forest where hearing and visibility are limited, to alert bears to your presence and Don't approach a bear.
Click here to learn more about bears in the wild.