BOZEMAN, Mont. — Montana officials said a Washington state man remains in stable condition and two New Mexico men have been treated and released after back-to-back grizzly bear attacks in the same area.
Fish Wildlife and Parks spokesman Morgan Jacobsen said authorities were still trying to determine if the attacks involved the same bear. The man from Washington was expected to be released from a hospital in Butte on Friday.
The attacks occurred Monday about 11 hours apart and within a mile of one another in the Gravelly mountains of southwestern Montana.
In the first encounter, two archery hunters from New Mexico were tracking elk when a bear charged and injured both men. It left after being sprayed with bear spray.
Also see | Wildlife experts warn humans visiting Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest, 'Do not feed the bears!'
That evening, two hunters from Washington were charged by a bear and one of them was mauled. The men fired gunshots at the animal until it left. It's unclear if they hit the bear.
Jacobsen said Friday that a helicopter flight and three days of ground searches did not turn up any grizzlies in the area of Monday's attacks and have ended their search.
Graphic photo warning: Images from NBC News show the injuries a hunter sustained after being attacked by a grizzly bear.