Living with the Wildlife

Sheri recently pointed out a YouTube video that was filmed in Wyoming. A visiting snowmobiler was driving on a trail when he came upon a bull moose blocking his path. He began revving his engine and aggressively inching upon the moose in an attempt to force him off the trail. The agitated animal did not flee but charged the snowmobile. As the bull backed off after the first charge, the snowmobiler pulled a pistol and emptied the clip into the animal. He drove past the carcass proudly as he continued his ride.

Spending time in mountain country requires one to learn how to live with the wildlife. Everyone enjoys the site of a moose grazing in the river or a bear crossing a mountain meadow but the wildlife never remain in their designated sites. River otters burrow under porches, moose crop trees in yards until they are unrecognizable and grizzlies scour home sites for any food or garbage left out.

To avoid conflicts between yourself and the wildlife you study their basic habits. You can avoid actions that draw them into a confrontation.

Take bears for example; there are two ways to run into bear problems: baiting or surprising them. If you leave food out, bears will find it. Garbage, bird feeders, a dead fish or a full cooler will all entice bears into a visit. Walking on mountain trails or especially through thick vegetation presents the opportunity to surprise a grizzly. A surprised bear will likely charge to defend his space. Walking cautiously through the mountains and avoiding areas like willows where your vision is severely obstructed always makes sense.

Avoid encroaching on wildlife with young. All new mothers are aggressive. Any animal that seems upset by your presence is telling you to back off. Quickly retreat while not turning away.

Be cautious in the mountains and you will have a great visit in Yellowstone Country.

Connie and the Bear

Last Tuesday afternoon, Island Park resident, Connie Funkhauser set out for a run to Sawtell Mountain. She outfitted her two German shepherds, Max and Shelby, with bells on their collars. Strapping on her fanny pack with bear spray and a cell phone, she put her whistle lanyard around her neck and loaded her handgun. Connie was off and running.

As she neared the base of Sawtell and the forest thickened, she noticed that Max suddenly showed an alert. Connie scanned the forest where her dog was focusing his attention and saw what initially looked to be a bedded elk at the timber’s edge. Stopping to better assess the situation, she saw the shimmer of a golden fur coat, the movement of legs and realized that she was fifteen yards from a bear. Suddenly, the bear turned his head towards her and her worst fear was confirmed, it was a large grizzly.

The bear took an aggressive step towards her, a mock charge to test her response. Max reciprocated with the same move towards the bear. Connie raised her pistol and shot a round above the animal. The combined responses stopped the bear’s attack and gave Connie time to draw her spray. She began blowing her whistle as her growling dogs held their ground between her and the bear.  The grizzly apparently decided that this well-armed, loud woman and her two devoted dogs were more trouble than they were worth. Yelling in a loud and firm voice at the bear, Connie slowly backed away. The encounter culminated in an acknowledgement of one another as the grizzly retreated.

Connie explained that each day before she runs, she mentally rehearses what she will do in the event of a bear encounter. She was emphatic that one should never run with earbuds because unobstructed hearing is necessary to perceive any danger.  She attributes her survival to her preparation and a hand from the man-upstairs.

A successful bear encounter is one that allows both the bear and the individual to continue on without injury. Connie’s experience is a textbook example of how to behave in bear country.

GRIZZLY ATTACKS

The early explorers of the Rocky Mountains were familiar with grizzly bear attacks. Some famous mountain men of the early 1800’s were mauled by grizzlies. In 1822, Hugh Glass, Jedediah Smith and Jim Bridger were among a group of trappers traveling to the Yellowstone when Glass surprised a mother grizzly and her cubs. The sow set upon Glass before he could get off a shot. Hugh found himself in the grip of the bear. Drawing his knife, he repeatedly stabbed the animal as it continually raked him with her claws. He managed to kill the bear with the help of other trappers but the injuries to him were severe. He was left for dead by Jim Bridger and John Fitzgerald after Indians arrived at the scene. Glass set his own leg, bandaged himself as best he could and crawled and walked 200 miles to Fort Kiowa. The incident was the inspiration for the 1971 movie “Man in the Wilderness”.

Two years later, Jedediah Smith was leading a trapping party to the Yellowstone valley when he was surprised and attacked by a large grizzly bear along the Cheyenne River (eastern Wyoming).  He suffered broken ribs and his side was torn open. The bear took Smith’s head in its mouth and his scalp (including one ear) was nearly torn from his skull before the grizzly retreated. His companions cleaned and stitched up his ear, scalp and side. He recovered from his injuries but grew his hair long to cover the large scar and deformed ear.

Last week, Brett Panting was conducting a survey on grizzly habitat when he surprised a bear in the Davis Lake area near Big Bend Ridge. Brett was unable to deploy his bear spray before being attacked. The bear ran off after biting him. He was treated at Eastern Idaho Regional Medical Center for puncture wounds and lacerations. He is reported to be home and doing well.

Attacks by startled grizzlies are meant to show domination over their environment.  Due to the increasing number of grizzlies in the greater Yellowstone ecosystem, the danger of a bear attack is as great as it was during the time of Glass and Smith.

Berry picking and bow hunting seasons entice us deeper into the grizzly’s realm, increasing the odds of an encounter. Here are a few of my rules for operating in grizzly country:

1.   Avoid thick vegetation, especially willows.

2.   If not scouting or hunting, take a dog with you. They make great bear alarms.

3.   Carry bear spray and replace it every two years to ensure its potency.

4.   When walking through the woods, move slowly; look (for fresh scat, tracks and the bear itself), listen (for movement) and smell for bears (they stink).

5.   If you come upon a bear, do not turn and run. They will chase you. Freeze and assess the situation. Do not give away your position with any sudden movements. Back away very slowly and look for a tree you can climb (grizzlies don’t climb) if the bear advances on you.

6.   If the bear charges, act BIG! Take a step forward, raise your hand high above you head and yell. It may stop the charge while he reconsiders his response. It may buy you the time to get out your spray and/or weapon or he may wander off.

7.   In the event of a surprise attack, you may have to become submissive. Drop to the ground, curl into a ball and cover your neck. Going toe-to-toe with a Grizzly will not end well!

Even with the best outdoor skills, grizzly attacks are inevitable when sharing the forest with the top of nature’s food chain. Be cautious and stay safe.