Yellowstone National Park officials released new details this week after a grizzly bear attack Monday left two hikers injured — a 28-year-old and a 14-year-old. The National Park Service believes a sow with two or three cubs was responsible. No decision had been announced on whether rangers would attempt to identify or track the animals.

The attack is a timely reminder for Helena-area residents and visitors heading into the backcountry this spring. The Bob Marshall Wilderness, the Gates of the Mountains, and other wild areas accessible from Helena all support grizzly populations, and bear activity typically increases as animals emerge from winter ranges and move through lower elevations.

Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks recommends hikers carry bear spray, make noise on the trail, and never approach a bear or attempt to separate a sow from her cubs. Surprise encounters with females defending cubs are among the most common causes of grizzly attacks in the Northern Rockies.

Yellowstone's situation drew attention regionally, but wildlife managers here note that the same species moves through terrain many Helena residents hike regularly. Spring and early summer, when cubs are young and sows are protective, is historically the highest-risk season.