A joint investigation is underway by the Wyoming Game and Fish Department and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service after a hunter killed a grizzly bear in the Jim Mountain area west of Cody.Early in the afternoon of Oct. 7, a non-resident elk hunter was attacked by a grizzly

“Initial information indicates that the bear was shot and killed by the hunter after the attack occurred,” said a Game and Fish news release.

The hunter, who requested his name not be released, suffered two puncture wounds to his right biceps, said Mark Bruscino, Game and Fish bear management program supervisor in Cody.

The hunter was with another individual, but his partner was not in the immediate vicinity at the time of the attack, said the Game and Fish.

After the bear attacked and was shot, the hunter walked three miles to the trailhead, drove to Cody and was admitted to West Park Hospital.

He was released the next day, Bruscino said.

“He's recovering and doing fine,” Bruscino said.

Pending the investigation's completion, Bruscino would not say whether the bear was an adult or a juvenile, male or female.

The white bark pines nut crop was dismal this year. White bark pine nuts are a high protein pre-hibernation food for grizzlies.

“Bears are seeking other sources of food,” Bruscino said.

But, Bruscino added, his opinion is lack of white bark pine nuts are not causing increases in bear-human conflicts this fall.

“Natural bear food availability fluctuates seasonally and from year to year. This year it appears that natural foods may be in short supply,” said Scott Talbott, assistant wildlife division chief for the Game and Fish. “In addition, grizzly bear abundance and distribution continue to grow throughout northwest Wyoming. We're seeing bears in places we haven't seen them before. We encourage hunters, homeowners and all recreationists to be aware of increased bear activity this fall.”

There are approximately 600 grizzly bears in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem.

Two bears were destroyed in the Yellowstone area this summer after they killed humans in two isolated incidents.

One grizzly was killed near Kitty Creek, west of Cody, in June after it killed a hiker. The other grizzly was destroyed in July near Cooke City, Mont., when it killed a camper and attacked other campers in the Soda Butte campground.

At least 38 grizzlies have died this year. Of those, 31 deaths were human-related in one way or another, said an Associated Press article, based on data from the Interagency Grizzly Bear Study Team, composed of state and federal officials.

Bruscino said bear spray is a good deterrent. Firearms are good deterrents in bear country too, but only if the user is well practiced in the use of their firearms.

“We think bear spray is a good deterrent for the average person that isn't really good with a firearm,” Bruscino said.

For more information on safety in bear country, visit the department's website at http://gf.state.wy.us/wildlife/grizzlymanagement/index.asp.