Another day, another grizzly bear attack. As grizzly bears continue to expand their range, increased grizzly bear attacks seem to be occurring. The latest one happened last weekend on a private ranch in the Tom Miner area north of Gardiner, Montana. The female victim was mauled by the bear near the carcass of a domestic cow. Authorities are unsure whether the bear was responsible for the cow’s death, but assume that it was.

According to the Billings Gazette, the women had the foresight to lay on her stomach “to protect her vital organs” once the bear attacked. Her companions, fortunately, had bear spray and were able to scare the bear off. This marks the second grizzly bear attack in southwest Montana in less than two weeks. As goHUNT previously reported, a bowhunter narrowly escaped from a bear attack that resulted in a 16” cut across his head and 90 stitches.

In both instances, the bears that attacked were interrupted from feeding on animal carcasses.

“The attack does appear to be defensive so we would not pursue management action against the grizzly,” Andrea Jones, Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks (MFWP) spokeswoman, told the Billings Gazette. “These were different scenarios, but the similarities are worth noting. Especially with carcasses and people running into carcasses, it does emphasize how much potential danger there is.”

If anything, these attacks serve as a reminder that remaining vigilant and carrying bear spray when in bear country is essential. If you plan to head into the backcountry and want to prepare for a possible bear encounter, read these tips provided by MFWP.