A tragic event left one woman dead in Montana.
On Tuesday, July 6, 2021, a woman was pulled from her tent by a 400 pound bear and killed.
Who was the woman killed by a bear in Ovando, Montana?
Following the vicious attack, the victim has been identified as Leah Davis Lokan, 65, of Chico, California.
Lokan was camping with a couple near a post office in Ovanda, Montana, during a long-distance bicycling trip.
"At about 3:30 a.m. the two people in the tent adjacent to the victim were awakened by sounds of the attack," the Fish, Wildlife, and Parks news release stated. "They exited the tent and sprayed the bear with bear spray. It has not been seen since."
Mary Flowers, a friend of the victim, said that Lokan was a registered nurse in Chico and had been looking forward to the trip for a while.
"She loved these kinds of adventures. A woman in her 60s, and she's dong this kind of stuff — she had a passion for life that was out of the ordinary," Flowers said.
Not much additional information is available out her personal life.
What happened to the bear that killed Leah Davis Lokan?
As July 8, 2021, the bear that fatally attacked Lokan has not be found.
"At this point, our best chance for catching this bear will be culvert traps set in the area near the chicken coop where the bear killed and ate several chickens," said FWP regional supervisor Randy Arnold.
Following the attack, campsites in the immediate area were closed for safety concerns as the bear is still at large.
"The area that we're dealing with in Ovando presents challenges, both terrain-wise and for brush cover," Powell County Sheriff Gavin Roselles added. "There's frankly a lot of places where a bear could hide. Fish, Wildlife and Parks as well as the Powell County Sheriff's Office dedicated people last night and again this morning to continue looking for the bear."
How do you prevent bear attacks?
Petpedia reported that on average there are 11 bear attacks in North America every year, but there are ways to prevent it while out in the wild.
According to the National Park Services, "Keeping your distance and not surprising bears are some of the most important things you can do."
"Most bears will avoid humans if they hear them coming. Pay attention to your surroundings and make a special effort to be noticeable if you are in an area with known bear activity or a good food source, such as berry bushes."
The recommend that during a bear encounter you should do these things to avoid escalation:
- Identify yourself
- Stay calm
- Pick up small children immediately
- Make yourself look as large as possible
- Do not allow the bear to access food
- Do not drop your bookbag
- Move away slowly and sideways
- Be cautious around a female with cubs
They also recommend to always have bear pepper spray when exploring the back country.
Another way to stay safe is to always hike and travel in groups.
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