Yellowstone Country Safety * The Grizzlies are OUT! *

With the receding snow comes an increase in activity and range of the grizzly bears. Be cautious about storing garbage or leaving dog food outside.    

Grizzlies Employed in Consumer Testing by The Grizzly and Wolf Discovery Center

West Yellowstone’s Grizzly and Wolf Discovery Center hosts a cutting edge program dedicated to reducing the conflicts between grizzlies and humans. With the increasing bear population and the swelling number of visitors to Yellowstone Country, it is not surprising that a record 24 grizzly bears were euthanized in 2015. Those of us who live in the area have adapted to the bears foraging for food. Removing tempting food sources minimizes their visits and the resulting damage.

I had the opportunity to spend some time last week with Randy Gravatt, the facility manager of the Grizzly and Wolf Discovery Center.  The center houses grizzly bears, wolves and birds of prey that would have had to be euthanized either because of injuries or in the case of the bears and wolves; they had become acclimated to humans.

The center has become the premier testing facility for bear-resistant garbage containers and coolers. The tests are very straightforward. Take the container to be tested, put some fish or other smelly, tasty vittles in it, place it in the bear enclosure and release a four hundred pound bear. If the bear cannot open the container within one hour nor make any hole larger than 1.5 inches in diameter, the container passes.  I had the opportunity to witness an actual test. I watched in amazement as the griz jumped up and down on the small cooler like a trampoline, tried to pry the lid off with its massive claws and batted it around like a hockey puck. Eventually it gave up and wandered away looking for an easier meal. This year the center tested 55 manufactures’ products and 60% passed. The initial year that the center began running tests only 10% passed. In September, Randy accepted the North American Conservation Award in Salt Lake City on behalf of the center for their work on bear safe containers.

The facility is an accredited member of the Aquarium/Zoo Association, signifying that the care that the animals receive is top-notch. Animals are not fed by employees but the food is buried around the enclosure and the bears are released to hunt for it. Live trout are stocked in the enclosure’s pond. Their food consists of as much big game road kill as fish and game can locate, as well as fruits and vegetables donated by West Yellowstone’s two grocery stores, local restaurants, Costco in Bozeman and our own Robin’s Roost. The center also accepts scraps (ribs, legs, etc.) from big game harvested by local hunters.

Randy was ecstatic as he pointed out the new construction projects underway. A large river otter/cutthroat trout habitat is slated for completion in the spring of 2018 which will allow for both above and below waterline viewing. The construction of a large black bear enclosure has also begun with an estimated opening date of 2020.

Take the opportunity to enjoy this wonderful facility. It is a gem that the area can be proud of and deserves our support.

Merchants are our Groundhogs

Communities across the country have various methods of predicting spring’s arrival. The most noteworthy occurs on Groundhog’s Day when Pennsylvania’s Punxsutawney Phil looks for his shadow. His shadow indicates six more weeks of winter.

Island Park has a much more effective predictor of spring. When vigilant business owners see fewer snowmobiles and mud begins to appear, spring is around the corner. As retailers shorten their hours and restaurants close until late May, it affirms that Old Man Winter has left the building. Unlike the eastern rodents, the caldera’s merchants are as accurate as a Swiss watch.

The selection of dining establishments in Island Park dwindles to four until Memorial Day. Stores reduce their hours during mud season or close completely. Those who live on the flat don’t realize how slow spring business can be in the caldera. The best that a business can hope for is to break even during this difficult time. This period of isolation is peaceful. Not many tourists have a hankerin’ to slog through the mud and remaining slush.

The slack time does not go unused however. Residents use it to make needed repairs and prepare for the visiting hoards that will begin arriving at the end of May.

The citizens of Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania have a rodent that is removed from its Gobbler’s Knob burrow each February and held high for the cameras. Island Park has not only developed a more accurate way to predict when spring is arriving but we have grizzly bears that emerge from their dens at the same time. I’d like to see someone from Gobbler’s Knob hold up a griz for the cameras!

Yellowstone Country Safety * The Bears are Awake *

Bears are responding to early warm temperatures by leaving their dens. Be cautious while hiking/snowshoeing and avoid leaving food sources outside of your cabin. 

Yellowstone Country Safety * No Ear-buds while Hiking *

When hiking in bear country, avoid the use of earbuds or headphones. Your hearing (along with sight and smell) is your danger detector. Don’t turn it off.

A Busy Weekend in Island Park

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Friday began a busy weekend for Island Park. I dropped in to the Henry’s Fork Days at Last Chance.  An enormous tent had been erected at the sportsman’s access. Inside, a group of dedicated sportsmen were attending the seminar within. Alex Whittier of Fish and Game was manning a Bear Aware booth nearby and a couple of diehard fishermen were fighting the 30 mph winds with downwind casts.

Saturday morning Sheri and I 

attended the Kid’s Fishing Day at Mill Pond. The cloudy morning went unnoticed as a large group of youngsters assisted by attentive parents, cast their lines into the pond. It didn’t take long before the trout began feeding on the worm-laden hooks. 

Excited kids took their trophies to the Fish and Game table where they were allowed to choose a new fishing pole from a large selection donated by local merchants.  The well-stocked pond produced a large number of happy young fishermen.

Dropping in on the Henry’s Fork Foundation festivities, preparations 
were being made for the big dinner under the tent. The calmer weather allowed fly fishermen to wade into the river and present their hand-tied offerings to the native cutthroats.

The next stop was Mesa Falls. The parking fee was waived and guides were available for tours of the geology and flora of the area. Smokey the Bear was greeting visitors at the information center and passing out gifts to the kids. 

Alex and the bear trailer had followed us from the Mill Pond to Mesa Falls where he continued to spread the gospel of being bear aware.

Finally we made our way down to the falls. A short walk on an easy trail led us to the majestic Mesa Falls. The swollen river crashing over the falls was accented by the mist fed green moss growing up the sides of the volcanic canyon.

There are so many opportunities to enjoy nature’s gifts in Island Park and the weekend pointed a few of those opportunities out with the help of many devoted residents. Thank you.

Yellowstone Country Safety * Yard Raiders *

Grizzly bears are already raiding yards of those who leave coolers or garbage outside. Secure your food and garbage.

Yellowstone Country Safety * Curious Cubs *

Two grizzly cubs have been seen recently around Mack’s Inn. Not sure if these are the orphan cubs from a recent shooting or if the sow is nearby. Keep a respectful distance.

The Attractive Nuisance

In my police days, I would occasionally be asked to deal with situations that were considered “an attractive nuisance”.   It could have been a fresh dirt pile that might collapse on a neighborhood kid while he was excavating a cave or an unsecured refrigerator left in a driveway awaiting a dump run.

While these situations are not criminal, they are enticing and dangerous to neighborhood children and taking proactive measures keeps everyone safe.

Over the past month, two grizzly bears have been shot. One was returning to a cabin to feast at a bird feeder and the other was dispatched for having designs on chickens and/or goats being raised north of Henry’s Lake. While one has a right to maintain chickens, goats and bird feeders, they may not be prudent to maintain in grizzly country. Knowing that you have several neighbors with cats, would you construct an outdoor sandbox, only to get aggravated and shoot any felines that use it as a rest stop?

When camping in grizzly country, I avoid cooking bacon, sausage, steaks or hamburgers because I know that the smell is enticing to bears. I don’t want the visitors, so I cook accordingly. Prevention is simpler than confrontation.

The bears may be only terrorizing barnyard animals and bird feeders but being drawn into cabins will eventually result into a surprise meeting with a resident, perhaps someone’s grandchild. Less enticement means less chance of an encounter.

While we are on the subject of grizzlies, it is time to delist the bears. They are far from endangered. There are probably more grizzly bears than black bears in Island Park. Environmentalists have complained that global warming is killing the white bark pines and without that food source, grizzlies would cease to exist. It appears that they are capable of expanding their menu. They will flourish with or without the pine.

Yellowstone Country Safety * Fall Bears *

With the conclusion of summer, bears are going to be aggressive as they search for food before they den up for the winter. Do not store food or garbage outside.

Yellowstone Country Safety * hearing is a danger detector *

When traveling on foot in bear country, avoid the use of earbuds or headphones. Hearing is your danger detector. Don’t turn it off.

Yellowstone Country Safety *Stay together on Trails *

While hiking local trails, do not allow children to run ahead of the group. They may surprise a bear or other animal, with tragic results. 

Yellowstone Country Safety * Bear Awareness *

Be Bear Aware! The smell of food attracts bears. After cooking, clean up your grill and any remnants of your meal.

Grizzly Bears in Island Park

A couple of weeks ago, Sheri insisted that I retire the birdfeeder for the summer. Her friends related stories of bears being attracted to the black sunflower seeds in bird feeders. She was definitely against any uninvited guests, especially with the grizzlies. That got me thinking about the increase in grizzly bears in the Island Park area over the past ten years.

I contacted Greg Losinski who is the regional conservation educator for the Idaho Department of Fish and Game.  He advised that there are an estimated 800 to 1,200 grizzly bears in the greater Yellowstone ecosystem, including Island Park. Using radio collars, it has been documented that the bears constantly migrate over a wide range. A bear can be in the middle of the park one day and in Island Park the next.

When asked when the bears might be delisted from an endangered species designation, he thought that it might be by 2014. The current holdup is because pine beetles are attacking the white bark pine in the park and it must be demonstrated to the court that grizzlies can survive despite a decrease in that food source. Upon delisting, limited hunting will eventually occur.

I inquired about the grizzly confrontation that had occurred last September near Chick Creek. Greg explained that a bowhunter had wounded a bull elk but had lost the blood trail and could not locate the animal. Four days later the carcass was located near Chick Creek and as the archer and his friends came upon it, they were surprised by a grizzly that had claimed the elk for its own. It charged the hunters in defense of its prize and they opened fire without seriously harming the bear but scaring it off.

Frankly, I had heard that the bear had tried to drive the hunters off a fresh kill that they were dressing.  Knowing the circumstances of the confrontation let me know that the bear was not as aggressive as I initially thought.

The grizzlies are here to stay. Greg was emphatic that not providing access to food resources by residents is the number one way to avoid bear confrontations.  Limited hunting will hopefully develop more hesitancy by the bears to approach humans. If there is a decrease in the berry crop due to drought, or another decrease in natural food resources, the bears are going to become more aggressive.