Tag: grizzly bear

Watch: Grizzly bear on snow shows off remarkably ‘huge feet’

Trail-cam footage captured recently in Canada’s Yukon Territory shows a large grizzly bear walking across the wintry landscape with paws the size of snowshoes.

Trail-cam footage captured recently in Canada’s Yukon Territory shows a large grizzly bear walking across a wintry landscape with paws the size of snowshoes.

“Look at those huge feet!” David Troup exclaimed Saturday on Facebook.

While massive paws might be standard issue for such an immense creature, a camera must be uniquely situated to capture footage of its moving paw bottoms in such close detail.

As viewers will note, the bear pauses after walking past the camera to stand on its hind legs and sniff a tree previously marked by grizzly bears and black bears.

Troup told FTW Outdoors that his motion-sensor camera captured the footage in late September, but he held off on posting the clip until Saturday.

ALSO ON FTW OUTDOORS: Video shows elk, not shown proper respect, knocking a man over a wall 

Troup explained that he’s still sorting through a backlog of summer and fall footage to share with his Yukon Trail Cams Facebook followers throughout the winter.

“I bring in about half my cameras for winter as wildlife activity slows down but human activity increases with easier access to more remote spots via snow machine, skis, and snowshoes,” he said.

In September, Troup posted a clip showing a large grizzly bear charging in slow motion just feet from one of his cameras, revealing its powerful gait and enormous claws. (Click here to watch the viral video.)

Beforehand, the bear stands and scratches its back against a tree trunk in an impressive display of scent marking.

Troup said that camera location was about a mile from where his “huge feet” footage was captured.

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Large bear appears to ‘waltz’ with trees in comical video

Trail-cam footage showing a bear rubbing its massive body against trees, even standing and seeming to dance with their trunks, is being widely shared on the Internet.

Trail-cam footage showing a bear rubbing its massive body against trees, at times standing and seeming to dance, was shared Wednesday by NBC Montana with a “Caption this!” instruction.

“He could do a Charmin commercial,” one commenter joked.

“Just the Bear Necessities,” another chimed in, referring to a song in the Disney film, “The Jungle Book.”

Many commented on the bear’s masterful effort in relieving an itch. But bears typically rub against trees to mark territory, and male bears often mark several trees while searching for breeding mates.

RELATED: Grizzly bear’s trail-cam appearance both awesome and terrifying

A handful of NBC Montana followers suggested that someone put the bear’s actions to music. That’s when Don Redfoot, who captured the footage near Red Lodge, directed people to the Red Lodge Wildlife Sightings Facebook page, where the footage is put to music.

Click here to view Redfoot’s version and decide for yourselves whether his choice of “Waltzing with Bears” compliments or distracts from the bear’s tree-marking behavior.

With or without music,  the footage is amusing and perhaps even enlightening.

–Image courtesy of Don Redfoot

Montana elk hunters kill grizzly bear in self-defense

Hunters in Montana claim to have killed a grizzly bear recently in self-defense as they processed an elk carcass in the backcountry.

Hunters in Montana shot and killed a grizzly bear recently in what they described as a self-defense encounter as they processed an elk carcass in the backcountry.

Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks stated in a news release Wednesday that “a small group of hunters” shot the bear as the animal charged toward them on Oct. 3 east of Gardiner.

The hunters were not injured and the incident is under investigation by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

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The encounter occurred during Montana’s early rifle-hunting season in Hunting District 316. The bear was a 3- to 5-year-old female without cubs.

It was not clear how quickly the hunters had acted in processing the elk carcass to avoid attracting grizzly bears. Bears are extremely active at this time of year as they try to add calories before hibernating.

“Activities that are deliberately quiet or fast moving, such as hunting, mountain biking or trail running, put people at greater risk for surprising a bear,” Fish, Wildlife & Parks stated. “Bears will be active throughout the general hunting season.”

–Grizzly bear image courtesy of Wikimedia Commons

Yellowstone tourist gets jail time for approaching grizzly bear

A woman who starred in a viral video that shows her approaching and being charged by a grizzly bear in Yellowstone National Park will spend four days in jail.

A woman who starred in a viral video that shows her being charged by a grizzly bear at close quarters in Yellowstone National Park will spend four days in jail.

Samantha R. Dehring, 25, of Carol Stream, Ill., pleaded guilty Wednesday to “willfully remaining, approaching, and photographing wildlife within 100 yards” during the May 10 encounter, according to a National Park Service news release.

The encounter, at Roaring Mountain,  was captured on video by another tourist from inside her vehicle.

 

Yellowstone has strict rules pertaining bears, bison, and wolves. Tourists must remain at least 100 yards from these unpredictable animals for their own safety and that of the critters.

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Dehring appeared before Magistrate Judge Mark L. Carman in Mammoth Hot Springs, Wyoming. She was sentenced to four days in custody and ordered to pay a $1,000 fine, and an additional $1,000 to the Yellowstone Forever Wildlife Protection Fund.

Dehring also is banned from entering Yellowstone National Park for one year.

Court records show that tourists had stopped at Roaring Mountain to watch a grizzly bear sow with three cubs. Most of them remained inside or quickly retreated to their vehicles.

Dehring held her ground, aiming her phone at the bear until it briefly charged toward her from a distance of less than 30 yards.

Said Acting United States Atty. Bob Murray:

“Wildlife in Yellowstone National Park are, indeed, wild. The park is not a zoo where animals can be viewed within the safety of a fenced enclosure. They roam freely in their natural habitat and when threatened will react accordingly. Approaching a sow grizzly with cubs is absolutely foolish. Here, pure luck is why Dehring is a criminal defendant and not a mauled tourist.”

–Image courtesy of Darcie Addington

Grizzly bear trail-cam appearance both awesome and terrifying

A trail camera in Canada’s Yukon Territory has captured footage showing a large grizzly bear marking territory by standing and rubbing its back against a tree.

A trail camera in Canada’s Yukon Territory has captured video footage showing a large grizzly bear standing and rubbing its back against a tree.

But the eye-catching portion is the aftermath: the bear charging toward the camera in slow motion, its massive head lurching downward with each step as the bruin approaches within feet of the camera.

“Look at those claws!” David Troup boasted Saturday on his Yukon Wildlife Cams Facebook post. “A grizzly bear runs toward the camera in slow motion after marking a tree in early August.”

An obvious comments reads, “Can you imagine standing where the trail camera is?”

Another follower joked, “Remember, you only have to be faster than your hiking partner!”

ALSO ON FTW OUTDOORS: Whale appears to fly during spectacular breaching event

The footage is revealing in that it shows the bear expressing itself in a natural environment without human influence.

Researchers believe bears scratch their backs on trees as a means of communication. Male grizzly bears will sometime mark several trees while in search of breeding mates.

The rest of Troup’s footage shows the bear’s determination to keep moving and, as some of his followers observed, the awesome power in a gait that’s somehow awkward and graceful.

Troup told FTW Outdoors that he monitors 15 motion-sensor cameras in the Yukon wilderness for possible posts to showcase the region’s wildlife.

He received several comments complimenting him for his editing skills.

Troup’s reply: “Thank you! I’ve developed a pretty good system for reviewing, organizing and sharing videos so I don’t repeat the same ones.”

Watch: Yellowstone wolf bites grizzly bear in the butt

A Yellowstone National Park tourist on Saturday captured video footage showing a wolf repeatedly biting a grizzly bear in the rear.

A Yellowstone National Park tourist on Saturday captured video footage showing a wolf repeatedly biting a grizzly bear’s butt.

The distant footage, captured by Gary Gaston in the northern portion of the park, also reveals a bear whose best defense seems simply to sit and become less vulnerable against the quicker wolf.

Gaston told FTW Outdoors that there was a large animal carcass – “probably an elk” – in a nearby thicket, which explains the presence of wolves, bears, and ravens in the same area.

RELATED: Watch as bear cub tumbles down waterfall while salmon fishing

“The bear sat down after it was bitten, then as soon as the wolf walked away it did too,” Gaston said.

As Gaston noted on Facebook, the footage was captured at daybreak at Crystal Creek near Slough Creek. “Crazy wolves, these,” he joked.

–Wolf image courtesy of Yellowstone National Park

Mountain biker chased by grizzly bear near site of recent attack

A mountain biker reported being chased by a grizzly bear Friday morning in northeastern Idaho.

A mountain biker reported being chased by a grizzly bear Friday morning in northeastern Idaho.

“The bear chased the biker but did not harm the biker,” the U.S. Forest Service-Caribou-Targhee National Forest stated on Facebook.

The incident occurred in the Stamp Meadows Road area in Island Park. An Idaho Department of Fish and Game spokesman told KSL that bear tracks were discovered nearby.

The bear is believed to be a female with cubs.

In early July a man was attacked by a female grizzly bear as he jogged four miles from where Friday’s incident occurred. The victim, who did not suffer life-threatening injuries, said the bear had at least one cub.

RELATED: Sigh of relief as famous brown bear ‘Otis’ is spotted in Alaska

The IDFG’s Curtis Hendricks told KSL that it was not known whether the same grizzly bear was involved in both incidents.

The U.S. Forest Service-Caribou-Targhee National Forest stated that “Bears in the Area” signs have been posted and urged bikers and hikers to exercise caution and carry bear spray.

Island Park is 28 miles southwest of West Yellowstone and the West Entrance to Yellowstone National Park.

–Grizzly bear image is generic

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.”

Also on FTW Outdoors: Video shows bear biting man in ‘very unusual’ July 4 encounter

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.

Jogger runs for help after bear attacks camper

A Montana camper injured during a bear attack Saturday was rescued after receiving help from a jogger.

A Montana camper injured during a bear attack Saturday was rescued after receiving help from a jogger.

The incident occurred two hours after dawn at Mystic Lake in the Custer Gallatin National Forest.

According to the Gallatin Sheriff’s Office, the unidentified victim was too injured to hike out but flagged down a jogger “who was quickly able to make it to cell service and call 911.”

ALSO ON FTW OUTDOORS: Astonished birders spot bear in tree nest ‘four stories high’

The victim, after being located by LifeFlight personnel, was treated on site before being airlifted to Bozeman Deaconess Hospital.

The Associated Press reports that the person’s injuries were not considered to be life-threatening.

According to the U.S. Forest Service, improperly stored food probably attracted the bear to the camping area southwest of Bozeman. It was not immediately clear whether a black bear or grizzly bear bit the camper.

–Black bear image is generic

Black bear shows ‘powerful exit strategy’ when confronted by a grizzly

A grizzly bear in Glacier National Park spotted a black bear and sought to make it a meal, but the black bear had other plans.

A grizzly bear in Glacier National Park was entertaining a group of tourists from afar when it spotted a black bear and suddenly took off running after it.

Recognizing the dangerous situation it was in, the black bear took immediate action and used a handy escape route—up a tree.

Anthony James captured video of the encounter and shared it with Glacier National Park, which put it on its Facebook page.

https://www.facebook.com/GlacierNPS/videos/330788798631770

“Normally agreeable when food is abundant, grizzly and black bears run into one another more often when food is scarce—like early summer,” Glacier National Park wrote.

“While grizzly bears are larger and typically stronger than black bears, this black bear displays its powerful exit strategy: climbing!

“The short, sharp claws of the black bear are ideal for tree climbing. The grizzly’s longer, duller claws are great for digging, but poor for climbing—especially because an adult grizzly is substantially heavier than a black bear.”

Clearly, the grizzly had set its sights on making the black bear a meal.

In 2013, Steve Michel, a human-wildlife conflict specialist with Banff National Park, cited five instances when a grizzly has hunted, killed and eaten a black bear in Banff, according to an article by the CBC.

“It may not be as rare as we think it is,” he told CBC. “But it is rare that we actually are able to document it. We tend not to know about it at all…

Also on FTW Outdoors: Momma bear in Yellowstone has ‘paws full’ with misbehaving cub

“Grizzly bears are opportunistic hunters. They will take advantage of any food source that presents itself.”

The black bear in this case escaped up a tree.

However, it was not known what happened once the video ended. We can only assume the grizzly moved on and a relieved black bear came down from the tree and lived happily ever after.

Photo of generic black bear from Clip Art Library.