Grand Teton National Park – Page 2

Watch: Moose sighting brings Grand Teton tourist to tears

Footage has surfaced showing a woman crying tears of joy after spotting her first wild moose in Wyoming’s Grand Teton National Park.

Who else becomes emotional after seeing their favorite critter for the first time in a national park?

The accompanying footage shows Caitlyn Sheamus crying tears of joy after spotting her first wild moose in Wyoming’s Grand Teton National Park.

“It was on my bucket list,” she explained to FTW Outdoors.

The footage, shared Friday by National Parks Guide, was captured last May as Sheamus and her boyfriend drove from their campground toward Jackson. (Below is the original footage.)

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“What did you see?” her boyfriend asks while documenting her reaction.

“I saw a moose,” she answers between sobs.

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Some viewers observed a bit of themselves in the footage.

“When he sees a bison and when I see an eagle,” reads one comment, in reference to that couple’s reactions produced by those iconic critters.

“Bears,” reads another.

“I love this so much,” reads yet another.

Sheamus said she and her boyfriend, Steve, had driven from Michigan to explore Grand Teton National Park and Yellowstone National Park for the first time.

Both parks teem with wild animals, large and small, and visitors often keep mental checklists of critters they hope to see.

While it might be rare to cry after spotting a precious animal, it’s quite common for iconic critter sightings to stir emotions.

Careless motorists are killing bison in Grand Teton National Park

At least five bison have been struck and killed by vehicles during the past two weeks in Grand Teton National Park, prompting officials to issue a plea to motorists.

“Seeing wildlife in their natural habitat is one of the many unique opportunities that make Grand Teton National Park a special, awe-inspiring place,” the Wyoming park stated Thursday in a news release. “Motorists can do their part to protect and preserve these animals by slowing down and using caution while driving.”

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In addition to the five bison, an elk, a coyote, a pronghorn and a wolf pup have died since mid-October as a result of vehicle strikes.

Bison and other animals are migrating as winter approaches and can appear unexpectedly on roadways. A 45-mph speed limit is supposed to keep motorists and wildlife safe.

“Drivers should use caution and slow down, especially at dawn, dusk, and during the night when visibility is reduced,” the park stated, explaining that even 2,000-pound bison are difficult to spot at night.

Between 75 and 100 large animals are struck by vehicles annually inside Grand Teton National Park.

–Generic bison image is courtesy of Yellowstone National Park

Woman ordered to pay $5.8K for attracting grizzly bear to campsite

A camper at Grand Teton National Park will pay dearly for failing to follow multiple warning signs about safety in bear country.

An Idaho woman was ordered to pay $5,826.99 in restitution for improper food storage at a campsite in Grand Teton National Park that resulted in a grizzly bear having to be tranquilized, collared and relocated.

Belinda J. Arvidson, 50, failed to properly store garbage and beverages while camping despite multiple warning signs about bears and the importance of proper food storage, including instructions to use bear boxes for food and other items, the Department of Justice, District of Wyoming, disclosed in a news release Friday afternoon.

Consequently, a grizzly bear wandered into the campsite and rummaged through the trash and other food items as nearby campers chronicled the incident with photos and video.

“Irresponsible behaviors have consequences, and many times it is the wildlife that pays the ultimate price,” Grand Teton National Park Superintendent Chip Jenkins said. “We all have responsibilities to preserve and protect the incredible wild animals of Grand Teton National Park and the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem.”

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Since the bear received a “food reward,” officials were forced to tranquilize, collar and relocate the bear by boat to another area of the park.

“It could pose a danger to humans if the bear were to have another similar incident, and euthanizing the bear may become necessary,” the Department of Justice stated. “The amount of restitution to be paid by Arvidson covers the National Park Service’s costs for this operation, including the cost of a GPS collar now necessary to track the bear’s movement.”

U.S. Magistrate Judge Mark L. Carman in Mammoth Hot Springs, Wyoming, handed down the sentence, which included four years of unsupervised release.

Grand Teton National Park is home to grizzly bears and black bears, who are attracted into parking lots, campgrounds and picnic areas by odors.

“All food items with a smell must be stored in a bear-resistant food storage locker or in a hard-sided vehicle with the doors locked and the windows closed day and night,” the Department of Justice wrote. “Never store food, garbage or toiletries in tents.

The National Park Service has more information on safety in bear country on its website.

Photos of grizzly bears courtesy of Wikipedia Commons and the National Park Service.

Runner pursued by hungry bear was ready for attack

A runner in Grand Teton National Park noticed a “hungry little cinnamon black bear who was fresh out of the den” taking an interest in him.

Evan Matthews was out for a casual run in Grand Teton National Park in Wyoming when he noticed a “hungry little cinnamon black bear who was fresh out of the den” taking an interest in him.

Smartly, Matthews didn’t immediately run away but held his ground. He then started slowly backing away and kept calmly talking to the bear, which subsequently pursued him for about a half mile.

“Hey! Stay back,” he yelled at the bear initially. “Hey! No!…No, you back up! You stay there!”

But it didn’t. Instead, the bear exited the snow-covered forest and hit the road, right behind Matthews, who had his bear spray in hand. He was ready for an attack.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fMUaeTLhqXc

“Hey, no! I don’t care if you’re hungry, I’m not your food,” Matthews told the bear in the video. “Sure, we could take a walk if you want, you don’t get any closer, though.”

The bear lost interest for a second, but turned and continued to follow Matthews.

“Luckily he’s not coming too fast,” he said. “I’m only a quarter mile from the car. Hopefully I don’t have to spray him.”

Fortunately, he didn’t have to use the bear spray. The bear finally turned off the road and scampered off into the forest.

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“That’s the first time I’ve been kind of run up on by a bear,” he said. “It’s exciting. Seen plenty of them out in the wild but never had them come at me like that.”

Matthews explained his actions in the video’s description:

“I did NOT run away. If I had, the bear could have thought of me as prey and chased me down. Being that I am not prey, I stood my ground when it charged, showing it that I’m not a prey animal, then backed away slowly.

“I did NOT play dead. That may save your life if a mother bear with cubs is attacking, as she may perceive the threat to be over. But with a solo bear who is interested in you like this, it is not trying to eliminate a threat—it is trying to find an easy target. Don’t be one.

“I kept talking to it to show that I was a human and not to be mistaken for another animal. Not all bear encounters are the same. In most cases, I’ve been able to just go around the animal. But this one was interested in me, so I had to change its mind!”

And eventually he did, thankfully.

Photos courtesy of Evan Matthews and ViralHog.

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