Leah Lokan, a 65-year-old nurse from California, was dragged from her tent and killed by a 400lb grizzly bear while camping during a multi-day cycling trip in Ovando, Montana. The attack occurred on July 6, 2021, after the bear returned to the campsite despite being scared off earlier.
Camping stop on Great Divide Mountain Bike route
Lokan was cycling with her sister Kim Lokan and friend Katherine Boerner along the 2,700-mile Great Divide Mountain Bike route. The group stopped in the small town of Ovando, where Kim and Katherine chose to stay in a hotel, while Leah pitched her tent in a grassy area behind the Ovando Brand Bar Museum. She camped next to Joe and Kim Cole from Amarillo, Texas, whom they had befriended during the journey.
First encounter with the bear
At around 3:08 am on July 6, the campers were awakened by a bear prowling near their tents. According to an interagency Board of Review (BOR) report, Lokan shouted "bear, bear!" to alert the Coles. The trio made noise, and the bear retreated. As a precaution, Lokan removed food supplies—dried lentils and packaged snacks—from her tent and secured them in a nearby building. She told Joe and Kim, "The bear huffed at my head." The Coles offered to let her stay in a hotel, but she declined and returned to her tent with bear spray.
Second, fatal attack
The BOR report states that the Coles were again awakened at approximately 4:05 am by noise and realized Lokan was being attacked. This time, Lokan made no sound. Joe Cole shouted "bear, bear!" unzipped his tent while yelling in a roaring voice, and deployed bear spray. Kim Cole blew her whistle. The bear was seen on the far side of Lokan's tent, "pouncing up and down" on her and the tent. Joe moved closer, continuing to spray the bear. The report notes, "the bear made eye contact with Joe, then averted its head as they approached closer, turned, and left." The couple saw that Lokan had been dragged approximately eight to 10 feet and was half out of her tent and sleeping bag, showing no signs of life.
Emergency response and injuries
The Coles rushed to a nearby shop and inn to alert others and seek help. Emergency responders arrived and attempted CPR and an AED, but no signs of life were found. The report states, "There is no way of knowing how much bear spray the bear received nor what impact the bear spray may have had on the bear. However, it is obvious that the bear left the attack scene because of Joe's aggressive response and action." The bear did not attempt to defend the body or feed on the victim. Lokan sustained severe lacerations to her head, neck, shoulders, and back.
Bear not located
Authorities searched for the bear but did not locate it. The incident highlighted risks of camping in bear country and the importance of proper food storage and bear spray use.
