UPDATE: 11:57 a.m. - July 9, 2021
HELENA - Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks (FWP) reports wildlife officials shot and killed a grizzly bear early Friday morning less than two miles from Ovando, where a woman was killed in a grizzly bear attack early Tuesday morning.
The bear was killed at the scene of a second chicken coop raid that was very similar in nature to the one that happened in Ovando the night of the fatal attack, according to FWP.
"Given the proximity to Tuesday’s attack, the evidence found at the scenes and the fact another chicken coop was raided, Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks officials believe this is the same bear but confirming DNA analysis will take a few days," a news release states.
The second chicken coop raid occurred Wednesday night, about 48 hours after the attack in Ovando. FWP specialists set a trap at the second coop on Thursday and USDA Wildlife Services specialists were monitoring the trap Thursday night when the bear approached and was shot.
Wildlife Services specialists were assisting at the request of FWP officials, anticipating the bear would return to the coop. They used night vision technology to aid in shooting the bear.
FWP is asking anyone who sees a bear in the area of Ovando area is asked to call (406) 542-5500.
(first report: 9:26 a.m. - July 9, 2021)
The Powell County Sheriff’s Office is reporting that the grizzly bear involved in a fatal attack in Ovando earlier this week may have been found and killed.
A social media post states the Sheriff’s Office received a report from a resident who found “her door ripped off and large claw marks were present” on Thursday evening.
A short time later a male grizzly bear was killed in the area.
Samples were immediately taken from the bear and were sent to a testing facility in hopes of making a positive identification.
Early indications are that this is likely the bear that was involved in Tuesday's attack, the Powell County Sheriff’s Office states.
65-year-old Leah Davis Lokan of Chico, California was pulled from her tent in Ovando and killed by a grizzly bear early Tuesday morning.
Local law enforcement along with Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks have been searching for the grizzly bear since the attack.
