MTB Collision With Grizzly Bear Led to Fatal Mauling, According to Investigation

Warning: This article contains graphic details. Back in June, the Flathead Beacon and Singletracks reported that Brad Treat was killed by a Grizzly Bear while mountain biking in Montana. Treat was a US Forest Service law enforcement officer, and a Forest Service review board recently concluded its investigation into the accident. According to the findings, Treat was …

By Jeff Barber
March 10, 2017 Last Updated: March 10, 2017

11 comments

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Warning: This article contains graphic details.

Back in June, the Flathead Beacon and Singletracks reported that Brad Treat was killed by a Grizzly Bear while mountain biking in Montana. Treat was a US Forest Service law enforcement officer, and a Forest Service review board recently concluded its investigation into the accident.

Location of the collision. Photo courtesy Forest Service board of review report. — View of where the attack occurred. Photo courtesy Forest Service board of review report.

Map showing location of the collision. Photo courtesy Forest Service board of review report. — Map showing location of the collision (red dot). Photo courtesy Forest Service board of review report.

According to the findings, Treat was riding with a friend on the “Outer Loop” in an area known as the Green Gate Trails, traveling about 20-25mph when he rounded a corner and unexpectedly collided with the bear. Treat’s wife noted he was a competitive rider who often tried to best his personal record, so riding this fast on a familiar trail was not uncommon for him.

According to the Great Falls Tribune,

The collision hurtled Treat into and then over the handlebars of his bike and either onto or over the bear. The investigation indicated the impact caused Treat to break both of his wrists and his left scapula as he tried to break his fall with his hands.

Based on Treat’s riding partner’s account, investigators believe the bear was injured in the collision as well. Treat’s partner went for help and when emergency personnel returned, they found Treat’s body bitten to pieces, though it didn’t appear the bear consumed any part of the body.

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Members of the review board concluded the attack was not predatory, but rather was the result of the bear being startled. Hair samples from the bear were tested to identify the animal, and investigators found no record of this particular bear having attacked any other humans in the past.

As a result of the investigation, the board of review released the following recommendations for bear safety:

Stay vigilant
Slow down
Carry bear spray
Make noise
Don’t ride alone
Never ride at dusk, dawn, or night
Don’t think “it won’t happen to me”
Remember bears live there and you are just a visitor

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11 Comments

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406mountainbike Montana // 2010
Mar 16, 2017

I hesitate to even comment other than Brad will be missed by everyone who knew him. Now what can we learn? Conservation groups (one in particular) are trying to use this extremely rare example to get mountain biking banned on trails in the local area. I have biked the trail he was on several times and I will again. There is a greater probability of running into a griz and getting mauled when you are hiking than when you are biking. In Brad's case, pepper spray would not have been available to prevent the attack. The bear REACTED instantly to being attacked. Biking, hiking, swimming, driving, running or whatever anyone does, has a risk involved. Weight out the risk to benefit and make your own decision, but don't take one example to draw a conclusion.

1 reply

rajflyboy North Carolina // 2017
Mar 11, 2017

We all do it sometimes but we should always be able to stop within our line of site down the trail. Never know what kind of obstacles could be in the way. Downed trees are one example.

Horrible accident.

[email protected] South Carolina // 2015
Mar 16, 2017

It can happen. My son and I ran up on a black bear in Pisgah. He was in the trail. It was raining and the sound of the rain must have muffled our presence. We had just traversed a steep drop with lots of roots and Rocks and had our heads down. I had to re-clip into my pedal and when I did the bear stood up in front of us. Thankfully I didn't run into him but if I had not clipped in my pedals I might have hit him. He ran the other way that GOD. My son was only 12 at the time. Needless to say we do not ride Trace ridge anymore!! So scary and I can see how it could happen.

0 reply

Ray Southwick 2017
Mar 11, 2017

This has to be about the saddest mountain biking story I've ever heard. I don't live in a place where there are bears, but I still have to think that even in bear country this an extremely rare instance (mountain biker hitting a bear and then being killed!?). Am I wrong? The news coverage would make you think otherwise.

Also, like most mountain bikers, I love animals and the outdoors. However, I thought it was a little callous for the government report to state "Remember, bears live there and you are just a visitor." I realize that they are trying to encourage people to ride safely (and there other suggestions make practical sense), but the man who died also lived, loved, and worked in that area, too. He protected both people and animals in those mountains.I wouldn't really call him a "just a visitor." It was his home as well.

Verdugist California // 2015
Mar 16, 2017

Also, there is a Big Bear Zoo in LA area. They have timber wolves, cougars, coyotes, black bears and grizzlies. The only cage they don't physically enter is the grizzly cage. No sharks, no grizzlies.

I live literally at the edge of a forest in Los Angeles. I have hiked, biked and ran in the trails in this forest dozens of times over the past several years. I consider myself a visitor because every time I enter the forest via the trails, the animals are already there and watching. You can think of it differently if you like but I'm not sure it really matters. The hills have eyes. You are being watched. And unfortunately, occasionally engagement with predators do occur. There is no way in hell I'd ever enter grizzly bear territory under any circumstances. That's the bottom line.

Slee_Stack 2010
Mar 10, 2017

This has to be about the worst way to die MTB'g. Poor guy.

towmahs California // 2016
Jul 13, 2017

Very sad and scary. I ride frequently in North Tahoe, where (black) bears are like 400 lb squirrels: they are curious, opportunistic, but for the most part, still wary of humans. I ALWAYS use a bear bell, and --so far--it seems to be working. Cheap insurance.

Was he using a bear bell when he collided with the grizzly?

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Jeff Barber Georgia // 1998
Mar 16, 2017

From what I've read, I don't believe he or his partner had a bear bell or any sort of bear repellant (like pepper spray).

I always use a bear bell in Los Angeles trails and we don't even have grizzlies; we do have hikers, deer, cougars and black bears, however. If there are grizzlies or sharks, I don't go there, no matter what. I've almost hit deer a couple times and didn't have bear bell back then.

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