Wyoming Game and Fish still searching for the grizzly bear that mauled 70 year old Erwin Frank Evert to death:

Just hours after a grizzly was tranquilized, collared and left to wake up it mauled to death a 7o year old cabin owner in the Kitty Creek area of Wyoming. (Just 7 miles from the East Entrance of Yellowstone National Park) 

Botanist Erwin Frank Evert of  Park Ridge, Ill, vacationed in his Kitty Creek cabin for nearly 40 years. One afternoon he went out for an afternoon hike and never returned. His wife reported him missing. Erwin was found shortly after at the bear capture site.

The grizzly responsible was left just hours earlier after being captured by the Interagency Grizzly Bear Study Team (IGBST)that was in the area researching grizzly bears.  The area is only 4 miles away from the  Wyoming Boy Scout Camp. At the time the researchers tranquilized the grizzly there where 150 boy scouts in the area.

Officials are not certain that this was the same bear that attacked and killed the 70 year old hiker. But it is no doubt a no brainer as Evert was found 20 yards from the capture site. The probability is that Erwin Frank Evert came upon the bear as the bear was waking up or shortly after. No doubt the bear was disoriented and in a bad mood.

The mauling occurred approximately 7 miles from the East Entrance of Yellowstone National Park on Thursday. After wardens of the Wyoming Game and Fish, members of Park County Search and Rescue and Scott Steward, a Park County Sheriff,  recovered Erwin’s body they closed the area to protect the public from further attacks.

The U.S. Forest Service furthered issued a closure order for the Kitty Creek area and part of the Shoshone National Forest until the bear is found. Federal wildlife and law enforcement agents are searching for the bear using the electronic tracking equipment put on the grizzly Thursday.

Just another reminder, when hiking the back country, you are not in the zoo! These are free roaming wild animals living in their natural habitat. Bear attacks are rare but they do happen! When in bear country please be prepared. Carry bear spray, do not hike alone and do your hiking in the day time, the evening is hunting time for grizzlies.

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Update

The bear was tracked via the radio collar and shot.  

We would like to express our thoughts and prayers are with Erwin’s wife, family and friends at this tragic time. Erwin, a Botanist,  had just published a massive reference book, “Vascular Plants of the Greater Yellowstone Area” which was his life’s work and his passion.

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