A Clark man was attacked by a sow grizzly bear while hiking north of Clark near the Montana border on Sunday afternoon.The man, whom Mark Bruscino, Game and Fish bear management program supervisor in Cody, did not wish to identify, was hunting antlers with another man when he happened upon the sow with three cubs.

He suffered serious wounds to his face and a few broken ribs, Bruscino said.

The victim killed the sow with his handgun, Bruscino said.

Though he did not see the attack, the man's friend heard it. After the assault, he got his buddy aboard an all-terrain vehicle and got him out, Bruscino said.

The victim was stabilized at Powell Hospital and then transported to a hospital in Billings, Bruscino said.

“She had three cubs, and we captured them,” said Bruscino, adding that they are searching for a zoo that will adopt the young bruins.

Mama grizzlies usually will flee an area with their babies when they feel threatened. However, at times, sows will attack.

“It's rare, but it happens,” Bruscino said.

Meanwhile, the Clark man remains hospitalized.

“I heard from a pretty reliable source that he's doing well,” Bruscino said.