ENNIS — Wildlife officials say a teen survived a bear attack with relatively minor injuries in southwestern Montana.
Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks say it was likely a grizzly bear that attacked the 17-year-old south of Ennis Sunday.
The agency says he was out looking for shed antlers when he heard a “thump” behind him and then saw the bear charging at him. The agency says he didn’t have time to use his bear spray and the bear pushed him up against a tree, where it held him briefly. It eventually pinned him face down on the ground. The boy said he was able to reach over his shoulder and spray the bear and it left.
The agency says the bear’s behavior is typical of surprise close encounters.