Bear traffic shuts down area

BOZEMAN – Montana officials have closed an area in the Gallatin National Forest east of Cooke City because the carcass of a grizzly bear killed while mauling a hunter last weekend is attracting other bears.

Ranger Mary Maj with the Gallatin National Forest said her agency, the Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service are working to determine when the area can be reopened.

The area is south of the Absaroka Beartooth Wilderness and north of U.S. Highway 212.

Authorities said the bear was killed Oct. 10 after being shot by a hunter trying to protect another hunter who was being mauled by the bear.

The hunters said they thought they were tracking a black bear.