Idiot reporter, idiot rancher: Never surprise a Griz

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Saturday, July 6. 2013

Idiot reporter, idiot rancher: Never surprise a Griz

Rancher blames global warming on Grizzly attack.

Two notes to that unfortunate rancher. First, if you live in Griz country, it is intelligent to be armed, on a horse, or in a vehicle. If hiking, at least make plenty of noise to warn them away. When we have hiked in a Griz preserve in Montana, we clap our hands and talk loud. Some hikers bang on pots, some use Bear Bells.

Second, Grizzly Bears are not mountain creatures at all. They are primarily creatures of the lowlands, especially river valleys and foothill marshes with the succulent vegetation they like to graze on. In berry season, they will go into the hills but not the mountains. Historically, they were common on the Great Plains of the US as far east as Ohio. They are not really predators except to fish, young helpless mammals, and anthills, but people can piss them off sometimes. They do not like to be bothered. Who does? They are powerful and fast and meat is a rare dessert for them.

When they are in forest or mountains, they are remnant refugees from their preferred habitat, trying to survive in marginal areas.

Rule of thumb: Never surprise a Griz.

Posted by Bird Dog in Natural History and Conservation, Our Essays at 19:26 | Comments (16) | Trackbacks (0)

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Experts advise carrying bells and pepper spray. You've probably heard that old joke about how to identify grizzly bear scat- it's full of bells and smells like pepper.

#1 Mystery Meat on 2013-07-06 22:04 (Reply)

My son, who lives in Anchorage, AK, was accosted several times for carrying a gun while hiking by naive Californians and others who seemed to think he was a danger to all things natural, when in reality, he was just being sensible and smart. Which reminds me of the self-identified Californian, ("We would never do that in CA") who, when we were visiting Jamestown, VA, couldn't seem to be able to explain to her children how those "peace-loving" Indians (ooops..."Native Americans") could have possibly stooped so low as to kill innocent deer, just so they could survive.

#2 Mark on 2013-07-06 22:14 (Reply)

Interesting that Game and Fish will help get in his hay instead of hunting down the bear and/or citing him for annoying the bear.

#3 walt moffett on 2013-07-06 22:17 (Reply)

We frequently have bears on the place. I just keep moving in my own way and they in theirs. Met up with a griz on the trail a couple of years ago--DH and I got into a 'marital discussion' about how to best respond to that situation and Mr. Bear decided he did not want to be involved in "one of those fights"; he just left first!

#4 apple pie on 2013-07-06 22:37 (Reply)

"Hon look, comes right down it it I can out run you. So if you think your way is best, I'll miss you."

#4.1 William O. B'Livion on 2013-07-07 02:43 (Reply)

Two Griz sitting around the campfire: one sez to the other, "I remember now, its white wine with fishermen; red wine with hunters."

#5 blick on 2013-07-07 09:42 (Reply)

Currently working my way thru "Undaunted Courage"; Lewis & Clark had never seen a griz before.

#6 Sam L. on 2013-07-07 09:53 (Reply)

Years ago I pulled up to a dumpster in the mountains near Cranbrook BC. Lowered my window to heave some litter into the bin and a large Grizzly head popped up out of the dumpster about 2 feet from my face. Two huge paws on the edge of the bin and the picture was of a bearish Kilroy.

The truck was still in gear, I left, with my garbage, even though the bear looked only inquisitive, and even friendly. Probably thought I had some nice tasty garbage for it.

#7 Fred Z on 2013-07-07 10:23 (Reply)

I knew a woman from Canada who grew up pretty far North in Manitoba where there are plenty of Polar Bears. She told me that standard equipment for any outdoor expedition was a rifle and some kind of cross between a flare gun and rocket launcher - something that fired a bright shrieking projectile. You used it to scare the bears out of anywhere you wanted to go that might be hiding one.

#8 T.K. Tortch on 2013-07-07 11:20 (Reply)

T.K.

Would your friend have lived in Churchill, MB perchance? But...as an aside...I thought Coka-Cola Inc. said there were no polar bears left?

TC

#9 Garry on 2013-07-07 12:17 (Reply)

**Coca-Cola**

#9.1 Garry on 2013-07-07 12:18 (Reply)

I don't think it was Churchill; I can't remember if she lived right on Hudson Bay or near one of the many lakes up there. Pretty far North though; easiest way to get there in Winter was to fly in, IIRC.

#9.2 T.K. Tortch on 2013-07-08 11:04 (Reply)

One of the stories here in the Coast Range to the west of San Francisco Bay is about a pioneer and his three Clydesdale horses. He had brought his team in to haul redwood trees out of the mountains.

The teamster tied his huge horses in a pasture high in the hills over night and when he returned the next day, grizzlies had eaten all three huge horses.

In the same area, the last human was killed in California about 1880.

Thankfully, they are extinct in the state now. That's one native critter I'm happy to be done with.

#10 Whitehall on 2013-07-07 14:38 (Reply)

Even assuming agw, by what logic would warming in the mountains drive grizzlies down into an even warmer environment?

This country is too stupid too survive.

#11 B Moe on 2013-07-07 18:56 (Reply)

RE: "Rule of thumb: Never surprise a Griz."

Well, never surprise a grizzly with less than a .50 BMG.

#12 kevino on 2013-07-08 09:46 (Reply)

While I was motorcycling to and through Alaska a few years ago, a Ranger told me two things: First, bears cannot differentiate smells. If you are carrying a muffin, the bear cannot tell the difference between you and the muffin. Second, if you are on foot, our on your motorcycle travelling slower than 10 miles per hour, you are in the food chain, and not at the top.

Despite this, we saw hundreds of (young and stupid) people hiking or bicycling through the wilderness while carrying backpacks filled with provisions. None were actually from Alaska. Those kids were all in pickup trucks, with guns.

#13 Michael_Haz on 2013-07-08 10:01 (Reply)

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Saturday, July 6. 2013

Idiot reporter, idiot rancher: Never surprise a Griz