A Montana hiking trip turned devastating when a woman suffered what loved ones describe as “life-altering” injuries in a grizzly bear attack.
The woman, named only as Aubrey in an online fundraiser, was walking with her dog near Columbia Falls last week when she encountered a grizzly sow accompanied by at least one cub, authorities said.
Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks officials described the mauling as “a surprise, defensive encounter,” indicating the bear likely reacted suddenly to a perceived threat.
Aubrey, described on a GoFundMe page as an “avid outdoorswoman,” was airlifted to Seattle for emergency surgery. Her dog, Frankie, escaped the attack unharmed.
“Aubrey’s injuries are extensive and life-altering,” the fundraising page says.
The page adds that Aubrey and her husband, Arley, are now facing “a long and uncertain road to her recovery.”
FWP investigators later found the carcass of a whitetail deer close to where the attack happened, according to the Flathead Beacon.
Wildlife officials believe the nearby food source, combined with the presence of the cub, may have triggered the female grizzly’s aggressive defensive response.
FWP said it would not be taking any action against the bear.
“This unexpected defensive encounter is truly unfortunate,” FWP Director Christy Clark said in a statement. “Our thoughts are with the victim and their loved ones during this difficult time.”
