The search continues in the Ovando area for a grizzly bear that killed a woman from California early Tuesday morning.

Powell County Sheriff Gavin Roselles provided KGVO with the latest details of the investigation.

“She's been identified as 65 year old Leah Davis Lokan of Chico, California,” said Sheriff Roselles. “As far as the time of the actual attack, we received a call on Tuesday morning at approximately 4:14 a.m. The caller at the time stated that there had been a person injured in a bear attack. There were witnesses there that saw the attack. The two additional campers that were in a tent near the victim deployed bear spray which drove the bear away at that point.”

Roselles said that Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks officials have positively identified the bear as a grizzly.

“Fish, Wildlife and Parks have identified the bear as a grizzly,” he said. “The only thing that I can say is that there was a video of a bear wandering in the area near prior to the time that it was reported, and their specialists have identified that bear as a grizzly bear.”

Sheriff Roselles extended his condolences to the family of the victim, and reminded visitors that Montana is a wild country and to exercise caution at all times.

“The Powell County Sheriff's Office extends our thoughts and prayers to not only the family members of the victim, but also the residents,” he said. “The first responders, the people that were involved in the incident, we're certainly thinking about them. The other thing that I'd like to put out is that Montana is a wonderful place. We do have wildlife in the area and we do have to take precautions. Be careful.”

Roselles said campsites in Ovando have been closed until Sunday, and he encourages anyone in the area to be cautious and aware that, as of Wednesday afternoon, the grizzly bear has not been located.

 

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