Yellowstone National Park logs first grizzly bear sighting of 2023

A Yellowstone National Park biologist spotted a grizzly bear Tuesday while on a research flight, providing a stark reminder that spring is close at hand.

A Yellowstone National Park biologist spotted a grizzly bear Tuesday while on a research flight, providing a stark reminder that spring is just around the corner.

To be sure, despite frigid temperatures and an abundance of snow, this should not come as a surprise.

Tuesday’s sighting marked the third time in four years that the park’s first known grizzly bear sighting occurred March 7.  (In 2021, the first sighting was on March 13.)

The sighting, of an adult bear weighing 300 to 350 pounds, occurred near bison remains in the central-eastern portion of the park.

ALSO: Lifeguard has pointed response to girl harassing sea lion; video

The park explained in a news release that male grizzly bears typically emerge from hibernation in March. Female grizzlies with cubs usually wait until April or early May.

With the spring tourism season about to begin, bear management biologist Kerry Gunther issued this important advice:

“Spring visitors skiing, snowshoeing, or hiking in Yellowstone National Park are reminded to carry bear spray and be especially alert for bears near carcasses and areas with early spring green-up.

“These are the first foods sought out by grizzlies after emerging from hibernations.”

Park visitors are cautioned to maintain a distance of at least 100 yards from bears they spot in the Yellowstone wilderness.

–Generic grizzly bear image courtesy of Yellowstone National Park

Man pleads guilty to killing grizzly bear and cub; hidden evidence located

A Canadian man illegally killed a grizzly bear sow and its cub in his backyard and literally attempted to cover up his crime.

A Canadian man killed a grizzly bear and its cub in his backyard and literally attempted to cover up his crime, but his ignorance about GPS tracking did him in.

So, Dax McHarg of Elk Valley, British Columbia, pleaded guilty in Fernie Provincial Court to killing a grizzly bear sow and cub out of season, unlawful possession of dead wildlife, failing to report the accidental killing of wildlife and mischief under $5,000, according to the Conservation Officer Service in a Facebook post Friday.

Also on FTW Outdoors: Bear stuck in ice given Pop Tarts during ill-advised rescue attempt

McHarg received a $15,152 penalty and a 10-year hunting ban, along with 100 hours of community service. He also must retake the hunter education course CORE. The firearm he used has been forfeited and will be destroyed.

McHarg killed the bears and then removed and kept the heads and paws. He buried the carcasses on his property, but hide the severed GPS collar and four tagged grizzly bear ear tips in a remote location near Elkford.

An investigation into the crime began October 2021 when a wildlife scientist discovered the GPS collar and tagged bear ear tips. Investigators used the items to track down the bears’ last location to McHarg’s house, the CBC reported.

“The bears had reportedly been accessing insecure free-range chickens,” the COS stated.

Conservation officer Ryan Gordon told the CBC that the McHarg property doesn’t have any electric fencing to protect the chickens from the bears and other predators.

“All efforts should be made to protect both life, livestock and wildlife,” Gordon told CBC.

“That would be night penning, so putting your chickens into a secure building, having electric fencing installed along with proper feeding techniques to limit smells and attractions for bears.”

Also on FTW Outdoors: Angler mistakes rod holder for boat’s fuel tank; ‘expensive mistake’

The COS did not receive any reports of bears accessing the chickens on McHarg’s property. Gordon asks people to report any wildlife entering their property to the agency.

“The majority of the penalty will go to the Habitat Conservation Trust Foundation,” the COS stated.

Generic photo of a grizzly and cub courtesy of Frank van Manen/The United States Geological Survey.

Montana hunters fire at charging grizzly bear, but apparently miss

Montana on Tuesday detailed several recent incidents involving grizzly bears, including one in which two hunters fired multiple handgun rounds at a charging bear.

Montana on Tuesday detailed several recent incidents involving grizzly bears, including one in which two hunters fired multiple handgun rounds at a charging bear in self-defense.

The “defensive encounter” occurred Oct. 14. The hunters were walking on a trail in the Madison Range when they heard brush breaking and saw a large bear emerge. Both hunters fired repeatedly and the bear fled without apparent signs of injury.

The Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks Department stated in a news release that the female bear probably was caught by surprise because of the wind direction, and that her charge was in defense of her two cubs.

Remarkably, the bullets seem to have missed the large target.

RELATED: Biologists discover huge grizzly bear den with ‘spectacular view’

On Oct. 15, FWP staff flew over the area and did not find an injured bear. A ground search turned up bear tracks and shell casings, but no “blood, hair, or any other evidence the bear was injured.”

The incident remains under investigation.

FWP also reported that a female grizzly bear and two cubs were captured from the town of Gardiner, near Yellowstone National Park, and relocated after repeatedly feeding in apple trees in public areas.

The bears did not respond to hazing attempts and instead became more brazen. On Oct. 17, the bears were feeding in apple trees near a school bus stop and prevented children from boarding the bus.

They were deemed a public safety hazard, trapped, and relocated to a site pre-approved by the Montana Fish and Wildlife Commission.

On Oct. 21, a female grizzly bear was euthanized after several conflicts with humans in Big Sky. Her two older cubs were relocated to a pre-approved release site.

On Oct. 23, an older male grizzly bear was found dead on U.S. Highway 191 after being struck by a vehicle near West Yellowstone.

FWP reiterated that grizzly bear populations “continue to become denser and more widespread in Montana, increasing the likelihood that residents and recreationists will encounter them in more places each year.”

The agency asked residents to take more precautions to protect themselves and the animals. Unsecured attractants such as fruit trees, bird feeders, and garbage are often factors in bear-human conflicts.

–Generic grizzly bear image is courtesy of the National Park Service

[listicle id=1969738]

Biologists discover huge grizzly bear den with ‘spectacular view’

As grizzly bears fatten up in advance of hibernation, some might wonder what features are important for grizzlies as they seek den sites. “It’s the view!”

As grizzly bears fatten up in advance of hibernation, some might wonder what features are important for grizzlies as they seek den sites.

“The view of course!” Idaho Fish and Game Upper Snake joked on Friday.

A Facebook post by the regional IDFG office featured images showing an enormous den discovered by biologist Jeremy Nicholson and Officers Chris Johnson and Joe Heald as they searched for a dropped tracking collar from a 600-pound research bear.

The view from outside the den. Photo: IDFG

The top image shows Johnson posing at the entrance of the den to reveal its size. Another image features a stunning view from just outside the den.

ALSO: Massive grouper catch stuns crowd at Florida fishing dock

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

The den even featured a ceiling vent for easy breathing.

The bear was not seen, but the group located what was left of the tracking collar inside the den.

Grizzly bears might move a ton of earth to excavate dens comfortable enough to support them during the winter. Depending on the weather, they typically begin preparing for hibernation in late November.

Male grizzlies are first to emerge from their dens in the spring, usually beginning in March. Females with cubs emerge in April or early May.

[listicle id=1969738]

Montana explains why it killed Yellowstone-area grizzly bear

A Montana grizzly bear that became increasingly habituated to humans was euthanized Wednesday, a day after its capture in the Gardiner Basin near Yellowstone National Park.

A grizzly bear that became increasingly habituated to humans was euthanized Wednesday, a day after its capture in Montana’s Gardiner Basin near Yellowstone National Park.

On Friday, the Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks Department explained in a news release that the adult female bear had a growing history of conflicts and had been relocated twice before its capture Tuesday on private land.

“In the weeks prior to the capture, the bear had broken into a fenced compound, frequented a home that had no unsecured attractants or natural foods, and killed chickens secured by electric fencing,” FWP stated. “The bear was largely undeterred by hazing efforts, which included rubber bullets, paintballs, electric fencing and noise-making devices.”

ALSO: Viewers challenged to spot mountain lion hiding in arroyo

The decision to euthanize the bear was made in consultation with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. (The bear had a small cub, which will be placed in a zoo.)

FWP stated that bear activity is high as the animals feed intensively in the weeks leading to hibernation, and that conflicts with humans have recently spiked.

On Tuesday, the same day as the Gardiner Basin capture, an adult male grizzly bear was shot and killed west of Emigrant by hunters who said they were acting in self defense.

On. Sept. 14, hunters reported being charged by a grizzly bear in the Tom Miner Basin. One hunter shot the bear with a pistol. A subsequent search involving ground and helicopter crews failed to locate the injured animal.

Conflicts with black bears, FWP stated, also have increased in residential areas such as Bozeman, Big Sky, Belgrade, Helena and Butte.
Several black bears were euthanized after gaining access to unsecured attractants, creating a public safety threat.

FWP explained that all of Montana is bear country and that securing attractants, such as garbage, bird feeders, and pet food, could help prevent bears from becoming habituated.

In the wilderness, hunters and hikers should always carry bear spray and take appropriate steps to prevent surprise encounters.

–Generic grizzly bear image is courtesy of Yellowstone National Park

[listicle id=1956609]

Watch: Grizzly bear chases oil-field worker onto cab of truck

The accompanying footage shows an oil-field worker scurrying onto the cab of his truck to escape an aggressive grizzly bear and her cub.

**Updated to include the original video and explain why the grizzly bear sow was so aggressive. 

When you work at a remote oil field in Alaska, it pays to be bear aware.

In the accompanying footage, an oil-field employee is shown scurrying onto the cab of a truck to escape an aggressive grizzly bear and one of her two cubs.

The tense encounter occurred inside an Arctic Pipe Inspection yard at Prudhoe Bay, where the momma bear and her cubs are fairly well known to employees.

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/24DESy87TwM

The employee shown watching from the yellow loader vehicle told FTW Outdoors that the sow was aggressive because had temporarily lost sight of her other cub. (The employee did not wish to disclose his name.)

Another employee captured the footage from the safety of the shop.

The tense situation lasted about a minute.

The Alaska Department of Fish and Game told the employee that the sow and her cubs routinely feed in area dumpsters.

[listicle id=1945548]

Grizzly bear attacks hiker in surprise encounter; no time to react

An experienced recreationist was hiking at high elevation in Wyoming when he surprised a grizzly bear, prompting an attack.

An experienced recreationist was hiking at high elevation in Wyoming when he surprised a grizzly bear, prompting an attack that gave him no time to react.

The unidentified victim was hiking Francs Peak west of Meeteetse when the encountered occurred Monday afternoon, according to the Wyoming Game and Fish Department.

The man was flown by helicopter to a hospital in Billings, Montana, where he received treatment. The extent of his injuries was unknown.

“We wish the individual a full and speedy recovery,” Cody Regional Wildlife Supervisor Corey Class said.

Also on FTW Outdoors: Bear pops beach ball, leading to an ‘attack’ on woman in tent

The press release did not give details about the call for help and whether the victim was hiking alone or with somebody.

The Park County Sheriff’s Office notified the WGFD about the attack, which happened too suddenly for the victim to deploy bear spray.

The WGFD and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service were gathering further details Tuesday.

“Based on the information gathered during the initial investigation, Game and Fish plans no management action at this time,” the press release stated. “Game and Fish will continue to monitor bear activity in the area and will make management decisions in the best interest of public safety.”

Generic photo of a grizzly courtesy of the National Park Service.

[listicle id=1905857]

Idaho town on alert after rare grizzly bear sighting

Idaho is asking hunters and other backcountry users to exercise caution near the town of Salmon after a rare grizzly bear sighting.

Idaho is asking hunters and other backcountry users to exercise caution near the town of Salmon after a rare grizzly bear sighting.

The Idaho Department of Fish and Game said in a news release that a bear photographed by a motion-sensor camera on May 14 has been identified as a grizzly bear.

Grizzly bears in Idaho are found mostly in northern Panhandle area and inside or near Yellowstone National Park in eastern Idaho. Salmon is in east-central Idaho, 170 miles from Yellowstone.

The bear was photographed in the North Fork area outside of Salmon.

ALSO: Wild horses chased by grizzly bear run for their lives; video 

The last known grizzly bear sighting in the area was in 2020, involving a young male grizzly.

Idaho’s spring black bear hunting season is underway and hunters near Salmon “should not assume any bear they see is a black bear,” the IDFG stated, cautioning that grizzly bears are a federally protected species.

It’s not known if the grizzly bear is still in the area, but all backcountry users are asked to carry bear spray.

The IDFG explained that young male grizzly bears sometimes roam extensively, venturing into areas where people are not accustomed to seeing them.

“These young male bears typically wander through an area, but do not remain there,” the agency stated.

–Grizzly bear image courtesy of the Idaho Department of Fish and Game

Moose chases grizzly bear in a wild scene caught on video

Employees preparing the Many Glacier Hotel for its June 3 season opening witnessed an extraordinary saga involving a hungry grizzly bear and momma moose hoping to defend her newborn calves

Employees preparing a Montana hotel for its June 3 opening witnessed an extraordinary saga involving a hungry grizzly bear and momma moose with two newborn calves.

The accompanying video clip, showing the moose chasing the grizzly bear down a road and to the water, and the bear smashing into a hotel window, has been shared by various sources without photographer credit since Sunday.

The footage, however, does not provide context or explain the larger story, which involved the predation of at least one of the moose calves by the grizzly bear.

Other clips, likewise, showed what transpired in bits and pieces at the Many Glacier Hotel in Glacier National Park. One shows the bear attacking one of the calves as momma moose stands in the lake. The footage, which can be viewed here, might be disturbing to watch.

RELATED: A fascinating look at a Yellowstone grizzly bear’s last days

At the time of this post, precise details were sparse. But Joshua Camareno, an employee at the property, told FTW Outdoors that the moose family’s ordeal began Friday and lasted at least into Sunday evening.

During that period, Camareno said, the grizzly bear took the calf into the woods and returned for the second calf a few hours later, “and that’s when the mom chased him off.”

Camareno said that on Sunday evening, National Park Service rangers used a hazing technique to scare momma moose and her remaining calf back into the woods.

“I’ve seen the grizzly come back twice since then, looking for it,” Camareno said late Monday.

Camareno also posted a clip to Instagram, writing: “Seeing this happen over the past two days wasn’t easy, but so glad I got to experience this first-hand.”

–Moose image is generic, courtesy of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

A fascinating look at Yellowstone grizzly bear’s final days

An ecotour company naturalist in Yellowstone National Park last week discovered the nearly undisturbed carcass of an adult male grizzly bear while hiking off-trail.

An ecotour company guide in Yellowstone National Park discovered the nearly undisturbed carcass of an adult male grizzly bear last week while hiking off-trail.

Since the bear had been wearing a GPS collar, the extraordinary find helped reveal a wealth of information about an animal that probably died as the result of a “bear argument” with another male grizzly.

Yellowstone Insight reported Friday via Facebook that naturalist/guide Doug MacCartney found the carcass May 23 and contacted park bear biologists Kerry Gunther and Travis Wyman. (The Facebook images are graphic.)

The bear was identified as #1052M, whose signal had ceased delivering movement data in the same area on May 13.

MacNeil Lyons, owner of Yellowstone Insight, wrote the accompanying Facebook post after receiving input from Wyman.

https://www.facebook.com/YellowstoneInsight/posts/pfbid02hoKMPwrG6XnArx7Zgit7ngggofnRHNx51FWHSpVAj6Y7cBWg3VcjaCiidjLefxrjl

The bear was a 10-year-old male. Collar data revealed that he inhabited the Mirror Plateau region, far from established trails, and denned this past winter near Wrong Creek.

This spring he roamed near Lamar Valley. On April 30, a research flight crew observed him digging for likely gopher caches at the base of Amethyst Creek.

ALSO: Light-tackle angler lands massive ‘freak of nature’ sunfish

The bear was found to have sustained severe head wounds and puncture marks to his skull, probably caused by another male bear.

“As this bear argument occurred in mid-May, between two mature males, we might assume that it was likely over a female as bears are in the midst of their breeding season,” Lyons stated on Facebook. “It is a good guess that was the reason for the outcome.”

Biologists collected the bear’s head for science and removed its claws, according to Lyons, to “de-value” the remains.

MacCartney’s discovery shows that you never know what you might stumble upon while exploring the wilder regions of Yellowstone National Park.

Lyons wrote: “It was great to hear his story, as we knew of his life, through the Bear Management Team here in Yellowstone National Park. We can only imagine what he saw over the 10 years in the backcountry of this amazing, protected and wild place.

“His ending was tragic and brutal, but such is nature… It is a hard life out in the wild and I am not sure about you, but I feel more in touch with the wildness of this place by knowing stories just like this one.”

–Top image is generic, courtesy of the National Park Service