Grizzly survived dustup with hunter

A female grizzly that bit an Eastern Idaho hunter last month has been identified through DNA testing of saliva on the hunter’s wound. Preliminary testing indicated that the grizzly is a radio-collared bear with three cubs. All four bears were spotted during a scheduled Idaho Fish and Game monitoring flight in early July. The grizzly – which was shot at after she bit the hunter in the right arm – appeared fine, said a Daryl Meints, a state regional wildlife manager. The hunter, 38-year-old Keith Klingler of Idaho Falls, was treated for cuts. Klingler was black-bear hunting with two other men June 28 when their hounds surrounded the female grizzly and her clubs. The grizzly knocked Klingler down, bit him and tossed him around. His brother fired a shot from a .44-caliber Magnum, deliberating aiming high to avoid hitting his brother. He may have missed the grizzly or only inflicted a flesh wound, Meints said. Officials recommend that anyone heading into the backcountry carry bear spray.