grizzly bears

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Bears leaving hibernation around Yellowstone area

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MAMMOTH HOT SPRINGS, WY – On Saturday, March 13, a pilot supporting park wildlife studies spotted the first grizzly leaving hibernation this year. From the air, the pilot watched the bear interact with wolves at a carcass in the northern part of the park. Though this is the first sighting of a grizzly bear in the park this year,  tracks have been seen on several occasions in the last two weeks. The first bear sighting of 2020 occurred on March 7, according to a statement released by the park’s public affairs office. Male grizzlies come out of hibernation in early March. Females with cubs emerge in April and early May. Continue Reading →

Filed under: Wildlife, Yellowstone, bear safety, grizzly bears, safety

First grizzly bears of spring spotted in Yellowstone National Park

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A few grizzly bears have been spotted emerging from hibernation in Yellowstone National Park.

Spring is officially a few days away, but after a bearish winter, the first grizzly of the season has been spotted in Yellowstone National Park. 
Early Wednesday morning, March 15, a park employee observed a grizzly bear between Mammoth Hot Springs and Tower-Roosevelt, according to a statement released by the park’s public affairs office. It is the first confirmed bear sighting this year, although bear tracks have been observed since February 22. Later in the morning, park staff saw two more grizzly bears scavenging carcasses in the northern part of the park.   
When bears emerge from hibernation they look for food and often feed on elk, bison and other animals that died over the winter. Sometimes, bears will react aggressively while feeding on carcasses. 
All of Yellowstone National Park and much of the surrounding area is bear country. Continue Reading →

Filed under: Wildlife, Yellowstone, grizzly bears, saftey

Feds propose dropping endangered species protections for grizzly bears

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Officials in Grand Teton National Park report that grizzly bears are active and out of hibernation with the arrival of spring weather.

In a move that had been widely expected, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service on Thursday proposed to remove federal protections for grizzly bears in the greater Yellowstone ecosystem. The agency called the restoration of the grizzly bear in Montana, Wyoming and Idaho over the last three decades "one of America’s great conservation successes." Some environmental groups have criticized the move, saying it prematurely drops protections for grizzlies. Continue Reading →

Filed under: Wildlife, Yellowstone, endangered species act, grizzly bear management, grizzly bears

Bears emerging from dens across Yellowstone region

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A few grizzly bears have been spotted emerging from hibernation in Yellowstone National Park.

Grizzly bears are emerging from hibernation in the greater Yellowstone area, so hikers, skiers and snowshoers should stay in groups of three of more, make noise on the trail, and carry bear spray. Bear spray is a good last line of defense, if kept handy and used according to directions, when a bear is approaching within 30 to 60 feet. The first confirmed report of grizzly bear activity in Yellowstone National Park was February 22. Wolf biologists observed a large grizzly bear in the Nez Perce drainage. Continue Reading →

Filed under: Wildlife, Yellowstone, black bears, grizzly bears, hibernation, safety

Report on fatal Yellowstone grizzly attack stresses importance of bear safety guidelines

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A few grizzly bears have been spotted emerging from hibernation in Yellowstone National Park.

There's no guarantee of safety when hiking in grizzly country, but following a few basic safety guidelines can reduce the odds of having a bad encounter with a bear. Unfortunately, too many hikers either don't know those basics, or ignore the advice that experts offer. That's one of the key findings from a report released Thursday by a panel that investigated the death of Lance Crosby, who was killed in August by an adult female grizzly bear in Yellowstone National Park. Continue Reading →

Filed under: Wildlife, Yellowstone, fatality, grizzly bears, safety

2 grizzly bears killed in separate incidents near Yellowstone

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A few grizzly bears have been spotted emerging from hibernation in Yellowstone National Park.

Two grizzly bears were killed by elk hunters acting in self defense last week in separate incidents near Yellowstone National Park. According to information released by Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks, both hunters were unharmed in the incidents. In each case, the hunters were able to return to their vehicles unharmed and report the incident. Continue Reading →

Filed under: Gateway Towns, Wildlife, grizzly bears, hunting, safety

Grizzly involved in Idaho hunter attack likely defending cubs

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A few grizzly bears have been spotted emerging from hibernation in Yellowstone National Park.

Idaho wildlife officials say their investigation into a recent grizzly bear attack on a hunter near Yellowstone National Park has determined the incident was likely the result of a surprise encounter in which a mother bear was defending her three cubs. A 55-year-old man from Idaho Falls was treated and released Monday after a grizzly bear bit his left hand. The man had been bowhunting for elk in the Caribou-Targhee National Forest in the vicinity of Yale Creek, about 15 miles west of Yellowstone. Continue Reading →

Filed under: Gateway Towns, Wildlife, grizzly bears, hunting, injury, island park, safety

Yellowstone stresses wildlife safety during fall

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Yellowstone National Park officials are reminding visitors to keep their distance from elk and other wildlife as fall approaches.

Following a summer that brought at lest five visitor injuries resulting from getting too close to bison, as well as the death of a hiker from an encounter with a mother grizzly and cubs, officials in Yellowstone National Park are stressing safety around wildlife as the fall season approaches. As summer winds down and cooler temperatures start to spread across the high country of Yellowstone, some wildlife in the park begin migrating, while others stock up on extra food to pack on the pounds before winter. Elk begin their fall rut, and will soon be vying for the attention of the females by bugling and sparing with other males. In many areas of the park, but especially around Mammoth Hot Springs, the bull elk become more aggressive toward both people and vehicles, and can be a threat to both people and property, according to a statement released by the park’s public affairs office. Elk damage several vehicles every year, and on occasion charge and injure visitors. Continue Reading →

Filed under: Wildlife, Yellowstone, autumn, bison, black bears, elk, fall, grizzly bears

Yellowstone grizzly cubs headed to Toledo Zoo

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Two grizzly bear cubs captured after their mother attacked and killed a hiker in Yellowstone National Park will be sent this fall to the Toledo Zoo in Ohio. The mother of the two female cubs was captured and euthanized after park officials determined the bear was responsible for killing Lance Crosby, a 63-year-old Billings, Mont. man who had been hiking alone near Lake Village in the park. Park officials determined the cubs, both less than a year old and each weighing 50-60 pounds, are not capable of surviving in the wild without their mother. Continue Reading →

Filed under: Wildlife, Yellowstone, grizzly bears, toledo zoo

Rangers trap grizzly after fatal bear attack

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Rangers in Yellowstone National Park have trapped a grizzly bear in the same area where a hiker was found dead last week after being attacked by a bear. Officials are conducting DNA tests to determine if the trapped bear is responsible for killing the hiker, and say they plan to euthanize any bear connected to the attack. Lance Crosby, 63, from Billings, Montana, was found dead at around noon on Friday, less than a mile from the Elephant Back Loop Trail in a popular off-trail area near Yellowstone's Lake Village. Continue Reading →

Filed under: Yellowstone, bear management, fatality, grizzly bears, lance crosby, safety