On July 1, 2021, at approximately 6 p.m., Game and Fish personnel received a report that a black bear had been shot and killed by a homeowner near Red Grade Road. The responding game warden interviewed the homeowner and investigated the scene. He determined the bear, an adult female, was killed in self-defense after charging the homeowner at less than 10 yards. The warden searched the surrounding area, but found no cached carcass, cubs or other resource that the bear might have been defending, which may have explained the aggressive behavior.
“Human-black bear encounters are rare and usually result in the bear fleeing the area,” said Sheridan Region Wildlife Supervisor Craig Smith. “However, this incident serves as a stark reminder that bears can be unpredictable and may exhibit aggressive behavior when they feel threatened.” Game and Fish personnel also responded to multiple other bear conflicts on July 1. That morning, a bear was reported accessing unsecured garbage at a c