Quick-thinking mom intervenes in bus stop bear encounter

MISSOULA, Mont. - Two Missoula County boys are safe after a near encounter with a bear. It happened at about 7:40 Thursday morning, just west of the Missoula city limits off Mullan Road, while Blake and Braden Williams were waiting for the bus right outside their home.

The Ranch Club neighborhood may look mild mannered, but it has a message for bears -- you're no match for our 6-year-olds.  

"It wasn't scary," said Braden Williams. "Of course it wasn't scary," added his brother Blake.

And you're really no match for our mothers.  

"Definitely, there are some maternal instincts that kick in, and obviously my best friend cares a lot about my boys,"  Kim Williams told NBC Montana.

Candace Gama explained, "I saw the bear right in her driveway and the boys were right on the sidewalk."

Here's what eyewitnesses said happened when the bear was just 20 yards from the boys: "Mom had to hit the gas and tear over there and get them in there before the bear got them," said 5-year-old Allison Gama.

"And she said, 'Get in the car, get in the car,'" said Braden. 

"She was like, 'GET IN THE CAR!!!'" Blake said.

Gama went on, "So I got out of the car and I took them by their backpacks and I threw them in the car."

Just a typical Montana morning -- but not for the boys' grandfather, visiting from out of state and witnessing a stranger grabbing his grandchildren.

"He doesn't know who this person is, driving up to the house, yelling at my kids, 'Get in the car' and then she physically picked them up and threw them in the car. Before he was going to tackle her, we finally heard her scream 'Bear! Bear!'" added Kim Williams.  

This was no wimpy bear. "It was from here to here," Braden demonstrated.

Even more reason Candace Gama's quick thinking isn't going unnoticed.

"My mom saved my friends, Blake and Braden.  She is the hero of the day," exclaimed Allison.

Something these Montana boys won't forget. "Thank you! Thank you!" said Blake and Braden.

Fish, Wildlife and Parks officials say a bear was spotted west of Missoula a couple weeks ago.  They remind families to keep garbage and animal feed inside and have an adult at bus stops for the next few weeks.