A Montana man’s body was found following an apparent grizzly bear attack on a hike, per NBC News.
The body of 40-year-old Craig Clouatre was found after a search and rescue team took to the Absaroka Mountains, where the Livingston man had gone missing north of Yellowstone National Park on Wednesday.
The search began Wednesday, when a horseback and helicopter team aided in finding Clouatre. The hiker was reported missing when his friend, who was potentially hunting for antler sheds with him, separated from him and realized something was wrong, per Livingston Enterprise.
“It is with a very heavy heart that I am writing this update. After an extensive search this morning we have located Craig. It appears he had an encounter with a grizzly and unfortunately did not survive,” Park County Sheriff Brad Bichler wrote on Facebook. “We will continue to work through the afternoon to bring Craig home. Please keep his family and all those involved in your thoughts and prayers.”
Bichler shared an update Sunday and wrote that he met with Clouatre’s wife “and she has reiterated to me that she and the family understand that Craig loved to be in wild places and was well aware of the risks involved with that.”
The sheriff’s office’s utilized a volunteer team, including people from Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks as well as the U.S. Forest Service.
“Let me open by saying the out pouring of love and support that has been shown to Craig Clouatre and his family over the last few days has been remarkable and to be honest I am not surprised,” he wrote. “This community is one that consistently rallies together to help one another in times of need and struggle.”
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