I didn’t hear about the grizzly attack until I went into the Irma Hotel Wednesday evening. News travels fast in a small town, and a grizzly mauling spreads like wildfire between residents and tourists alike.

While many are out hiking and enjoying the scenery in Yellowstone this time of year, mother grizzlies are out and about teaching their cubs how to forage for food. This is prime time to take precautions when traveling through Yellowstone. It is always great to see the Grizzlies, especially sows with cubs, but it is absolutely necessary to carry bear mace when walking or hiking ANYWHERE in Yellowstone.

Grizzly bears will naturally try to avoid people. But with more than 600 grizzlies roaming the park and millions of tourists visiting Yellowstone each year, it is possible that another encounter with a grizzly could happen. 

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Yellowstones Last Grizzly Attack Was 25 Years Ago – 1986

The last attack inside the boundaries of Yellowstone Park occurred 25 years ago. 

Last year alone, there were 2 deaths directly related to grizzly attacks within 7 miles of the Parks borders. In June 2010, a tranquilized bear had been left sleeping approximately 7 miles outside the east entrance of Yellowstone Park.  Hiker and cabin owner Botanist Erwin Frank Evert was hiking in the area and probably came upon the sleeping, tranquilized bear. He was later found just 20 yards from the bear capture site.

Only one month later in July 2010, a female grizzly savagely attacked sleeping campers in the Soda Butte Campground- killing one man and injuring 2 others. The female sow was later located and euthanized. The campground is located just 5 miles from Yellowstone’s Northeast entrance.

And now Wednesday July 6, what began as a hiking adventure between husband and wife, resulted in the mauling death of the 57-year-old man. The man and his wife had been hiking in the Yellowstone Grand Canyon area when they crossed the path of a mother grizzly (Sow) and her cubs. The hike turned tragic when the sow charged the couple. The man was mauled to death and the woman picked up in the grizzlies massive jaws. (It wasn’t clear to me if she was attacked before her husband was killed or after). What I know is that the grizzly picked her up by her backpack, shook her a few times, dropped her and left. She survives with a few scrapes and scratches only because she played dead.

The grizzly will not be sought and euthanized as the attack is considered a ‘natural’ occurrence as it is believe the sow was protecting her cubs. Since grizzlies obviously have more rights than we do this is considered the right measure. Let’s just hope the grizzly DID indeed feel threatened and more attacks are not forthcoming.

The path to Artist Point has been blocked by barricades to prevent further attacks if the bear is still in the area.

Please read Bear attacks are rare but they do happen to learn what you should do to prevent a grizzly encounter and what to do if you would encounter a grizzly.

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