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Massive grizzly bear den site appears to be all about the view

Biologists searching for a dropped collar last fall discovered a massive grizzly bear den overlooking the vast Idaho wilderness.

Grizzly bears are preparing to hibernate and people might wonder what kind of process is involved in choosing a den site.

The question brings to mind a social-media post last fall by the Idaho Department of Fish and Game, revealing a massive den site that boasted an expansive view of the forest and river.

“Ever wonder how a large male grizzly chooses a spot to dig a winter den? The view of course!” the agency’s Upper Snake River division joked via Facebook.

Officer Chris Johnson poses inside the den. Photo: IDFG

The den was discovered by biologist Jeremy Nicholson, who was searching for a dropped collar from a research bear.

The collar’s signal led Nicholson and two IDFG officers to a den excavated by a grizzly bear that weighed more than 600 pounds.

Officer Chris Johnson is pictured “enjoying the ample head room inside the bear’s den.”

Entrance to the grizzly bear’s den. Photo: IDFG

The bear was not in the den at the time and Nicholson and crew retrieved the collar without incident.

“Check out the spectacular view from the den and what it takes to excavate a den large enough to hold a grizzly bear,” the post concluded.

Grizzly bears can move up to a ton of earth to excavate dens comfortable enough to support them during the winter. They typically begin preparing for hibernation in mid- to late November.

Montana hunter kills grizzly bear near hibernation site

A Montana hunter has killed a grizzly bear in self-defense near where the animal had been digging a hibernation den.

A Montana hunter shot and killed a grizzly bear in apparent self-defense Saturday as the bruin charged the hunter.

According to Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks, the adult female grizzly bear, which had no history of conflict with humans, “appeared to be digging a den where the encounter took place.”

Grizzly bears are foraging in advance of hibernation and the hunter apparently surprised the animal. The incident occurred near Ennis in the Gravelly Range in Madison County.

Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks stated in a news release: “This time of year is when bears are active for longer periods as they prepare for hibernation.

“This period overlaps with hunting season and other fall recreation activities. Hunters should be aware that bears will remain active throughout the general [hunting] season.”

Grizzly bears are federally protected under the Endangered Species Act and can only be killed legally in cases of self-defense.

The incident is under investigation by the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service.

–Generic grizzly bear image courtesy of the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service

Search fails to locate grizzly bear responsible for Montana attack

A Montana field investigation following the Sept. 8 mauling of a man by a grizzly bear has failed to locate a dead or injured bear.

A Montana field investigation following the Sept. 8 mauling of a man by a grizzly bear has failed to locate the bear believed responsible for the attack.

Rudy Noorlander was seriously injured during the attack in the Madison Range south of Big Sky. He remains in critical but stable condition.

One of Noorlander’s companions fired at the bear moments after it attacked, causing the animal to flee.

KateLynn Noorlander, Rudy’s daughter, has launched a GoFundMe campaign to raise funds for medical costs. She stated that her father was trying to help hunters locate a deer they had shot when the bear charged him during a surprise encounter.

“Rudy aimed his gun at the bear but his firearm misfired, making his best choice of defense his fists as he did not have any time to get his bear spray from his backpack,” KateLynn stated in the GoFundMe post.

Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks explained Wednesday in a news release that an aerial search failed to locate a dead or injured bear.

“FWP grizzly bear specialists and game wardens, as well deputies from the Gallatin County Sheriff’s Office, revisited the attack site Tuesday,” FWP stated. “They searched the area near the attack site from the ground and with an infrared drone and didn’t locate a dead or wounded bear.

“However, they found signs of high bear activity, including the remains of a cached animal carcass, whitebark pine middens and bear scat. This evidence indicates the bear attacked defensively in a surprise, close encounter with the victim.”

The investigation has concluded but the area remains under an emergency closure implemented by the Custer Gallatin National Forest.

Montana angler kills grizzly bear north of Yellowstone

A Montana angler shot and killed a grizzly bear Wednesday north of Yellowstone National Park in an apparent case of self-defense.

A Montana angler shot and killed a protected grizzly bear Wednesday in an apparent case of self-defense.

According to Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks, two anglers surprised the adult male bear while hiking on private land along Tom Miner Creek north of Yellowstone National Park.

The bear charged both anglers in what Fish, Wildlife & Parks described as “defensive behavior” in close quarters. One angler shot and killed the bear.

The case is under investigation and further details were not provided.

The incident occurred four days after two hunters shot and killed a female grizzly bear in self-defense near the Montana town of Whitefish.

The men were scouting in advance of the fall hunting season for non-protected game when they surprised the bear. Both men opened fire and one was shot in the shoulder and required hospitalization.

The grizzly bear had a cub that ran off after the incident.

Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks stated in a news release that anyone venturing into bear country should make “localized noise” to alert bears and reduce the likelihood of surprise encounters.

–Generic grizzly bear image courtesy of ©Pete Thomas

Montana hunters kill grizzly bear during surprise encounter

Two men from Whitefish, Montana, shot and killed a grizzly bear Saturday in self-defense while scouting in advance of hunting season.

Two men from Whitefish, Montana, shot and killed a protected grizzly bear Saturday in self-defense while scouting in advance of the fall hunting season for other species.

One of the men was shot in the back shoulder during the chaotic encounter in the Whitefish Range. The man was treated at a nearby hospital.

Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks stated in a news release that the men were in dense woods when they surprised a female grizzly bear with one cub. The adult bear charged and the men shot and killed the animal.

Fish, Wildlife & Parks explained that the bear’s behavior appeared to have been in defense of her cub. She did not have a history of conflict with humans.

The bear, tagged by researchers in 2009, was about 25 years old.

As of late Monday, FWP had not located the cub.

The agency determined after an investigation that the bear was shot in self-defense. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service concurred with the findings.

–Generic grizzly bear image courtesy of ©Pete Thomas

Problem grizzly bear relocated near Yellowstone National Park

An adult female grizzly bear has been relocated from an area outside Cody, Wyo., to remote wilderness near Yellowstone National Park.

An adult female grizzly bear has been relocated from an area northwest of Cody, Wyo., to remote wilderness near Yellowstone National Park.

The bear, which had been preying on livestock, was relocated Aug. 6 to the Five Mile Creek Drainage region about five miles from Yellowstone’s East Entrance.

The Wyoming Game and Fish Department stated in a news release that the bear was moved “to reduce conflict potential” with humans.

It’s one of several grizzly bears relocated to Five Mile Creek Drainage in recent years.

Relocation is considered a management tool “to minimize the chance of future conflicts and maximize the relocated grizzly bear’s chance for survival,” the WGFD stated.

Grizzly bears that are deemed a threat to public safety are not relocated, but rather euthanized.

The Aug. 6 relocation was carried out after consultation with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

–Generic grizzly bear image courtesy of the National Park Service

Massive grizzly bear in for a shock during next back scratch

A massive grizzly bear that claimed a Montana storage shed as its personal scratching post has apparently been persuaded to stay away.

A giant grizzly bear that claimed a Montana storage shed as its personal scratching post has apparently been persuaded to keep away.

The male grizzly bear in the top image is shown scent-marking a shed that stands nearly 6 feet tall.

Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks explained Tuesday that the bear had been spotted on the same private property for years. It liked to mark the shed to communicate with other bears (note the giant paw print on the door).

Generator shed now protected by electric fence. Photo: Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks

FWP explained via Facebook:

“This generator shed contained no food attractants and was mostly empty. Bears are often curious about wood stains/oils/varnishes/shellacs and other outdoor treatments and will readily chew and rub on these treated woods.

“Once a scent post is created, other bears traveling in the area will rub in the same spot to make their presence known to other bears.”

Since this presented a danger to humans on and near the property, state biologists and the property owner teamed to construct an electric fence around the structure.

Bear markings on generator shed. Photo: Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks

FWP stated: “The need for an electric fence on this structure is to prevent bears from being accustomed to and comfortable with rubbing on human structures, which can lead to them becoming more conflict-prone.

“Proactive measures, such as this one, teach bears to avoid human structures keeping people safe and reducing the need for management removal of bears.”

FWP had previously use the the image as part of a Facebook quiz that asked followers to guess whether this was a grizzly bear or black bear. But the answer was clear in the description’s wording:

“Here is a helpful hint: Grizzly bears are generally larger than black bears and may be bigger than a small shed. Also, they can be distinguished by longer, curved claws, humped shoulders, and a face that appears to be concave.”

Could fatal grizzly bear attack near Yellowstone have been avoided?

The woman who was killed by a grizzly bear Saturday near Yellowstone National Park was hiking alone and did not appear to have been armed with bear spray.

The incident occurred before 8 a.m. on the Buttermilk Trail west of West Yellowstone, Montana. The town is just outside Yellowstone National Park.

Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks confirmed in a Monday news release that the unidentified woman sustained wounds “consistent with a bear attack.”

Tracks from an adult grizzly bear and at least one cub were found nearby.

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As of Monday morning, an emergency closure of the Buttermilk Trail near the attack site remained under an emergency closure implemented by the Custer Gallatin National Forest.

Authorities are trying to locate and capture the bear believed responsible for the attack.

Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks stated in the news release:

“The hiker was believed to be alone during the encounter, and no bear spray or firearms were found at the scene. The incident is still under joint investigation by FWP and the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service.

“FWP staff express sincere condolences to the family and friends of the hiker who was killed.”

Hikers in bear country are urged to stay in groups and to keep bear spray handy.

–Grizzly bear image courtesy of Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks

Woman killed in apparent grizzly bear attack near Yellowstone

A woman was found deceased Saturday on a trail near the Montana town of West Yellowstone, the apparent victim of a grizzly bear attack.

Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks announced Sunday that the body was discovered on the Buttermilk Trail, and that grizzly bear tracks were found nearby.

The Custer Gallatin National Forest has temporarily closed the area – about eight miles west of West Yellowstone – to recreational activities.

Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks said more details would be released when they become available, and that the case was under investigation.

The agency cautioned anyone entering bear country to avoid hiking alone and to keep bear spray close at hand.

West Yellowstone is just outside the West Entrance of Yellowstone National Park.

–Generic grizzly bear image courtesy of the National Park Service

Watch: Wild horses flee with grizzly bear in hot pursuit

A trail camera in Alberta, Canada has captured footage showing a grizzly bear chasing wild horses, likely in the hope of capturing a foal.

A trail camera in Canada has captured footage of a grizzly bear chasing wild horses, likely in the hope of capturing a foal.

The accompanying footage, shared June 16 by the Help Alberta Wildies Society (HAWS), shows several horses sprinting across a creek, followed seconds later by the charging grizzly bear.

Days later, HAWS explained in another video post that the band of horses included two foals. That footage showed the horses before “the chase” and the narrator said it was not clear if the bear succeeded in its hunt.

“[A] grizzly can sustain a run at 25-28 mph for up to 2 miles,” HAWS explained. “We won’t know until our next camera run if all of this band made it.”

The nonprofit’s cameras documented a similar but more dramatic scene in May 2022. The footage (posted below) shows a head-on view of the horses running for their lives and the bear in ferocious pursuit.

After that incident, HAWS stated: “The next time someone tells you that the Wild Horses have no natural predators, send them to me. We are losing a lot of horses this year, sooner and quicker than in past years. Not just the foals. Adults also.”

–Image is a video screen grab

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