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Yellowstone records first grizzly bear sighting of 2021

Yellowstone National Park has logged its first grizzly bear sighting of 2021, indicating that the end of the hibernation season is near.

Yellowstone National Park has logged its first grizzly bear sighting of 2021, indicating that the hibernation season is nearly over.

The bear, which was interacting with wolves at a large animal carcass, was spotted Saturday by a pilot conducting wildlife studies, according to a news release issued Tuesday.

Male grizzly bears typically begin to emerge from their dens in early March. Female grizzly bears with cubs emerge in April and early May.

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The bears will immediately try to fatten up on elk and bison that perished during the harsh winter.

“When bears first emerge from hibernation, they look for carcasses at lower elevations and spring vegetation in thermal meadows and south-facing slopes for nourishment,” said Kerry Gunther, a Yellowstone bear management biologist.

The park stated that bears “will react aggressively” toward intruders while feeding and urged visitors to stay at least 100 yards from the animals.

Visitors also should carry bear spray in case of surprise encounters.

–Grizzly bear image is courtesy of Yellowstone National Park

Yellowstone bear ferociously guards kill as tourists watch

A grizzly bear that killed a bull elk in a Yellowstone National Park river battle last Friday has become a major tourist attraction.

That’s because the male grizzly has partially buried the elk on the bank of the Yellowstone River, across from a paved road, and is taking his time consuming the carcass.

“Wolves tried to come in yesterday, but this bear won’t even allow ravens to share, which is unusual,” Deby Dixon of Deby’s Wild World Photography, told For The Win Outdoors.

“This bear is methodical and does not appear to be concerned about anything taking away his food. Most bears stuff themselves in a hurry, for fear of losing it to another.”

Dixon on Tuesday captured a remarkable image showing the bear in a ferocious defensive posture alongside the half-buried elk. (See full image below.)

“I don’t want to run into this guy in the forest!” Dixon wrote on Facebook.

(Graphic video showing the bear attacking the elk can be viewed here.)

Grizzly bears do not typically attack full-grown elk, but this elk appeared to have previously suffered a broken leg, which made the animal vulnerable.

“A healthy elk would have gotten across the water before the bear even got to the river,” said Dixon, who specializes in Yellowstone wildlife photography.

After drowning the elk, the bear carved a large section of bank and covered most of the carcass to keep it fresh and prevent its scent from attracting predators.

News of this incredible display spread across social media and wildlife enthusiasts are driving into the park daily to witness the feeding event. (The grizzly bear is known to the park, cataloged as 791.)

Dixon said park staff is doing a good job of keeping tourists from blocking the road, but people are parking farther away and walking back to watch or photograph the bear.

A park spokeswoman told For The Win Outdoors that rangers may not always be present and that tourists “have a responsibility to behave in a way that doesn’t put people, or the bear, at risk.”

–Images courtesy of Deby Dixon/Deby’s Wild World

Yellowstone warns tourists of ‘extreme danger’ involving elk

Yellowstone National Park issued a warning to visitors that the elk mating season has begun and the animals can be “extremely dangerous” during this period.

Yellowstone National Park is warning visitors that the elk mating season has begun and the animals can be “extremely dangerous.”

The elk rut, as it’s called, runs from early September through mid-October. Bull elk can be heard bugling to announce their availability to females, and while challenging rival males. Dominant males are fiercely protective as they form and guard harems.

Violent clashes between elk occur, and visitors are cautioned not to get between or close to the animals.

“Stay alert! People have been severely injured by elk,” Yellowstone stated in a news release issued Friday. “Elk run quickly and may change direction without warning. If an elk charges you, find shelter in your vehicle or behind a tall, sturdy barrier as quickly as possible.”

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Elk are the most abundant large mammal species inside the park, which provides summer refuge for between 10,000 and 20,000 elk. Primary congregation areas during the rut are in the northern region, notably Mammoth Hot Springs and the Madison River.

Bull elk can weigh 700 pounds and measure five feet at the shoulder; female elk are slightly smaller.

Tourists often approach elk during the rut, despite warnings, and there have been serious consequences.

In September 2018, a tourist captured video footage showing a bull elk knocking a man to the ground with its antlers.

As the park stipulates, visitors are responsible for their own safety. Guidelines state that visitors should remain at least 25 yards from elk at all times.

–Images are courtesy of Yellowstone National Park (top) and Pete Thomas

Momma grizzly with cubs stands up to Yellowstone wolves

When a bison carcass is discovered by wolves and grizzly bears, competition can be fierce between the apex predators.

A lone adult grizzly typically has no problem bellying up to a carcass, and scattering wolves. But it’s more dangerous when the grizzly has cubs.

The accompanying footage, captured recently by a tour guide inside Yellowstone National Park, shows a momma grizzly bear and two cubs running from wolves after the bears tried to intrude on the carcass.

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Taylor Bland, a guide for Yellowstone Wolf Tracker, told For The Win Outdoors that her footage began as at least four members of the Junction Butte wolf pack began to chase the bears.

“A big, 2,000-pound bison was killed by another bison during the rut, and this was Day 2 of the carcass,” Bland said of the early August sighting. “The wolves were trying to keep the bears from feeding on it.”

She referred to the wolves’ behavior as “resource guarding” and said it did not appear that they intended to kill the cubs.

However, Bland said, “Wolves will occasionally kill grizzly cubs because the cubs will grow up to be competition. Same goes for bears and wolf pups.”

Viewers may note that the momma grizzly tried to stay between her cubs and the wolves during the brief pursuit, and ultimately stopped to square off with the wolves.

Her cubs, like momma, occasionally stood in what seemed a defensive posture.

Finally, the wolves gave up and ventured back toward the carcass.

Bland added that after the wolves had filled up on bison flesh, momma grizzly and both cubs returned and feasted on the carcass for two-plus hours.

“Most of the wolves bedded down about 100 yards off the carcass,” Bland said. “Two yearling cubs stuck around but [momma] bear chased them off multiple times and they were no match for her.”

The bison rut, or mating season, runs from mid-July through August. During this period, rival males are sometimes killed by more dominant bison. The carcasses provide sustenance to other species.

Bland said her group’s sighting – “one of the most epic bear-wolf interactions I’ve ever seen” – occurred in Lamar Valley.

Her footage was captured from a distance of a quarter-mile and she removed the sound, she said, because the excited chatter from her group “drew away from the events that were happening.”

–Top image courtesy of Taylor Bland; aerial shot of the Junction Butte wolf pack last winter is courtesy of NPS / Dan Stahler