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Blueberry picker shoots and kills charging grizzly

A man was hospitalized Thursday night after an encounter with a grizzly bear about 2 miles (3 kilometers) north of Columbia Falls, Montana Fish, Wildlife and Park reported.

A 72-year-old man was picking blueberries alone on Flathead National Forest land just off North Fork Road when he reported encountering a bear that attacked him. The man shot and killed the bear with a handgun.

FWP rangers and bear specialists responded to the incident and confirmed that an adult female grizzly bear had been killed. FWP is in the process of verifying the presence of cubs. FWP determined that it was a surprise defensive encounter.

The man’s name has not been released, nor has the severity of his injuries.