A hiker missing in the Livingston area was found dead Friday after an apparent grizzly bear attack, according to a Facebook post from the Park County Sheriff's office.
The search for the hiker began Thursday in the Sixmile Creek area south of Livingston. Search and rescue crews combed the area on foot, horseback and from the air before finding the body Friday.
The victim's full name has not been released. The sheriff's department posts say the man's first name is Craig.
Grizzly bears are leaving their dens for the spring, when they often head to lower elevations to find food. FWP biologists say we shouldn't be surprised to see a grizzly bear anywhere in western Montana. Montana FWP recommends people carry bear spray and know how to use it.
Facing threats from habitat loss, hunting and conflicts with people and livestock, grizzly bear numbers dwindled to fewer than 1,000 in the lower 48 by the time the Endangered Species Act (ESA) was implemented in 1975. Now, wildlife managers say the Greater Yellowstone and Northern Continental Divide populations have recovered and are ready for delisting. Here's a timeline of the management actions, court cases and notable events that have shaped grizzly bear recovery since their ESA listing through today.
