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Buckrail- Wyoming Game and Fish Department (WGFD) officials are currently investigating a bear attack that occurred in the Bridger-Teton National Forest this morning.

Earlier today, WGFD Bear Specialist Brian Debolt confirmed that it appeared a man was attacked by a bear this morning in Teton County. The man, who has not yet been identified, was bow hunting with a hunting partner southeast of Moran when the attack occurred. He was transported to St. John’s Medical Center in Jackson to receive treatment for his injuries.

According to Mark Gocke, WGFD public information specialist, officials are currently investigating the scene. They will then speak with the attack victim to collect information about what happened. Officials do not yet know what type of bear was involved in the attack.

“We are coordinating with our partners, the Bridger-Teton National Forest and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service,” said Gocke. “Public safety is our highest concern.”

Update from News & Guide-

Wildlife managers investigating a bear mauling in the Leidy Highlands early Tuesday disclosed few details before press time.

What’s known is that the Teton County Sheriff’s Office fielded a call at 9:06 a.m. of an archery hunter who was mauled while in the Skull Creek drainage about 25 miles northeast of Jackson in the Bridger-Teton National Forest.

The uninjured friend of the hunter took his mauled hunting buddy to meet an ambulance in Jackson, Lt. Slade Ross said.

The extent of the man’s injuries was unclear at press time, although Ross reported the man suffered wounds to the arm and head.

In the aftermath, Wyoming Game and Fish Department carnivore biologists Mike Boyce and Brian Debolt went to investigate the scene of the attack.

Their findings were not released on Tuesday.

“We literally don’t know what kind of bear it was at this point,” Game and Fish regional wildlife supervisor Brad Hovinga said prior to the investigation. “This is all really preliminary.”

Skull Creek is a tributary of Spread Creek and falls within regularly occupied grizzly bear habitat that’s also popular for elk hunting.

The mauling victim, who had not been identified, was “unavailable” to Game and Fish investigators early in the afternoon Tuesday, Hovinga said.

Hovinga suspected the man’s lack of availability was due to his medical condition.

“Either that or he doesn’t want to talk to us,” he said.

See the Thursday edition of the Jackson Hole Daily for more details on this developing story.

— Emily Mieure contributed to this story.

 

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