CA Nurse Killed By Grizzly Victim Of Rare Predatory Attack: Report

CHICO, CA — A Chico nurse mauled to death by a grizzly in Montana last summer was the victim of a rare "predatory attack" by a bear that was habituated or food conditioned.

On July 6, 2021, Leah Lokan, 65, was killed by a grizzly at a campground in Ovando, Montana. She had been on a multi-day biking trip with her sister and friend, and they rode into Ovando on July 5 to spend the night.

Lokan camped behind the museum next to two acquaintances they met along the ride. Around 3 a.m. on July 6th, a bear woke Lokan and her acquaintances near their tents. Lokan cried out, “bear, bear,” officials said. The bear was several feet from the two tents, exploring. The trio got up and made noise, and the bear left. One of the acquaintances grabbed bear spray but did not use it.

Lokan said “the bear huffed at my head,” then moved packaged snacks and dried lentils from her tent into a nearby building, and brought bear spray into her tent. After returning to sleep, the acquaintances were again awoken by noise about an hour later. They realized she was being attacked by a bear.

One of the acquaintances unzipped the tent and yelled in a roaring-like voice and deployed his bear spray as he crawled out of the tent, officials said. The other acquaintance followed and blew her whistle. They saw the dark shape of the bear on the other side of Lokan’s tent, "pouncing up and down'" on her and her tent, as the man approached and continued to spray. The bear made eye contact with the man, turned and left as they got closer.

"The back of the tent was still standing but as they approached, they could see that Ms. Lokan and tent had been dragged by the bear approximately 8 to 10 feet ... and Ms. Lokan was half out of the tent and sleeping bag showing no signs of life," officials said.

They ran and sought help, and emergency responders were called.

After initial attempts to revive Lokan, emergency crews determined she was dead.

A board of review report published June 28 by the Interagency Grizzly Bear Committee called Lokan's death an "unfortunate incident" that appeared to be a "predatory attack by a habituated or food conditioned bear." Two dried blueberry bags containing toiletries and other personal items were found inside her tent after the attack. The bags still had the scent of berries on them.

Additionally, numerous food items such as beef jerky, crackers, seeds, trail mix, granola bars, electrolyte drink powder and tablets and a baked potato wrapped in foil, were found in the saddlebags of Lokan's bicycle, which was leaning against the back wall of the museum about 10 feet from her tent.

"Predatory attacks are rare, and we do not know exactly how, why, or when the predatory instinct occurred," the authors of the report said. "Food and toiletries inside and near the tent as well as food scent left behind from July 4th picnic celebrations prior to the attack were likely contributing factors."

The bear also killed and fed on chickens and chicken feed the morning following the mauling, the report said. Later, investigators learned a bear ripped a door off an empty camper trailer about 4 miles away sometime between July 5-8.

On July 9, the grizzly returned to the chicken coop, destroyed it and was shot by wildlife agents. The carcass was taken to Missoula for testing, where experts determined the bear’s teeth and measurements matched that of the bite marks on the Lokan's shirt and tent.

An autopsy determined Lokan died from multiple blunt force injuries to her head, torso and right upper extremity. Her neck was broken, and her spinal cord was severed. She likely died instantaneously, and her death was ruled an accident due to injuries from a grizzly attack.

The report recommended keeping food and toiletries out of tents and well away from them, as well as cooking at least 100 feet from the sleeping area.

If a bear comes near an occupied tent, the report suggests campers do not return to the tent.