GREAT FALLS — A hiker had a close encounter with a bear in Sluice Boxes State Park on Saturday, August 23, 2025.

According to Montana Fish, Wildlife, and Parks, the person shot twice at the bear, possibly hitting it once.

FWP staff responded to the area and found four black bears in the area, but none were dead or wounded.

Their search included the use of an infrared drone. TRENDING New restaurants and businesses in Great Falls Recent Obituaries MSU student dies after being hit by a train What does 'back-to-school necklace' mean?

FWP said that it can't confirm with certainty the species of bear involved in the encounter, though they believe it was a black bear from video footage of the bear.

The area where the encounter happened and much of the state park have abundant berrie

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