HELENA, Mont. – A man who was mauled by a black bear in Montana told state wildlife officials that the bear jumped on his tent, tore through the fabric and attacked him.
Fish, Wildlife and Parks investigator Brian Sommers called it a predatory attack.
Agency employees shot and killed the 5-year-old male bear Friday afternoon about 70 yards from the campsite.
A necropsy found items in the bear's stomach that were consistent with food at the camp, including plastic bags and dried pasta.
Sommers says blood on the bear's claws has been swabbed and will be tested to confirm a tie to the man who was mauled at about 7:30 a.m. Friday in the Bob Marshall Wilderness. He stopped the attack with pepper spray.
The man is recovering from his injuries.