1 dead, 2 injured in bear attack at Montana campground

HELENA, Mont. — A bear attack today in a campground near Yellowstone National Park left one person dead and two injured, Montana wildlife officials said.

A man was killed in the attack at the Soda Butte campground near Cooke City that was reported about 4 a.m., Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks spokesman Ron Aasheim said.

A woman suffered severe lacerations from bites on her arms, while another man was bitten on his calf and taken to a hospital in Cody, Wyo.

Wildlife officials did not release the identities of the victims and said they were sending a response team to piece together what happened.

“We don’t know if it was one bear, two bears, a black bear or grizzly bear,” Aasheim said. “Obviously the bear’s gone now. Will it come back tonight? That’s the question.”

After the attack was reported, authorities cleared the campground, telling campers to go to their cars. The Park County department report said tents in the area were smashed, Aasheim said.

The campground, which is run by the U.S. Forest Service, has been closed while the investigation goes on, Aasheim said.

The Soda Butte campground is in the Gallatin National Forest near the northeastern entrance of Yellowstone National Park.