A hiker was left with “life-altering” injuries after she was mauled by a grizzly bear in Montana.
The woman, identified in an online fundraiser only as Aubrey, was attacked last week while walking with her dog near Columbia Falls by a grizzly bear with at least one cub, officials said.
The Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks (FWP) service called the attack “a surprise, defensive encounter.”
The “avid outdoorswoman” was flown to Seattle for emergency surgery, according to a GoFundMe. Her dog, Frankie, was uninjured.
“Aubrey’s injuries are extensive and life-altering,” the webpage states.
She and her husband, Arley, “now find themselves navigating a long and uncertain road to her recovery.”
Investigators from FWP discovered a whitetail deer carcass near the scene of the attack, the Flathead Beacon reported.
Officials believe the presence of a food source and the cub contributed to the female bear’s violent response.
FWP said it would not be taking any action against the bear.
“This unexpected defensive encounter is truly unfortunate,” FWP Director Christy Clark said in a statement. “Our thoughts are with the victim and their loved ones during this difficult time.”
