East Idaho Hunter Nearly Mauled By Grizzly Bear, Shoots Animal

An eastern Idaho hunter is fortunate to be alive after crossing paths recently with a grizzly bear.

Surviving a grizzly bear attack is uncommon. Most bears don't interact with humans, but if they are wandering with cubs or starved for food, they can be quite destructive and lethal. They are also known to stalk their prey.

Idaho is home to approximately 20,000 bears. One hundred of those are estimated to be grizzlies, according to Visit Idaho. A bear should never be approached in the wild, unless you're a hunter and have means to defend yourself.

Eastern Idaho Hunter Nearly Mauled By Grizzly Bear

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According to details shared by KSL, the incident happened Saturday near Island Park, 240 miles northeast of Twin Falls. A hunter narrowly escaped a charging grizzly that came out of some nearby brush. The hunter shot the animal in self defense, according to details shared.

It's the advise of those who work in the park service that anytime someone comes into close proximity of a bear, they remain as calm as possible and slowly back away. Bear are known to hunt for large quantities of food prior to hibernating in late-October, for five to seven months. It's not known if the bear was protecting offspring or not.

When camping in the outdoors, it's important to store food in a locked location, such a bear box if one is available. Never leave food exposed in a tent or vehicle, as the animal is powerful enough to destroy a car or truck attempting to gain access.