Noticed this thread and thought I would reply since I am in Yellowstone at this time. My wife and I (both retired) have done seasonal work in or around Yellowstone Park for several years. I come here to fly fish for the summer and my wife puts up with me and then I take her to Disneyland/DisneyWorld for a vacation upon return to our home and all is well.
This news of a man being killed yesterday and his wife escaping has been big news and very sad around this area, it is too bad that this happened. The news account seems to be correct with the details we have heard from officials here but most have said that it is too bad that the couple did not retreat after their first sighting of the female grizzly and her cubs. We saw two grizzly bears on our way to Bozeman yesterday and four others this spring, and heard about this tragedy last night on our way back to West Yellowstone. For the past few years more grizzly bears seem to be sighted and the black bears are becoming less seen, maybe the grizzly bears are pushing them out of the area, not sure. This female grizzly will not be hunted down and killed, it was doing it's natural duty of protecting her cubs, but it is sad that someone lost their life while out enjoying this beautiful area.
I have had a couple of close calls with bears while out fly fishing in the area with one black bear actually coming into the same fishing pool I was in and just wanting to cross the stream but when he started floating towards me within about fifteen feet, I went one way out of the pool and he went the other way and all was fine and he went about his business up the trail.
To those who think you can have enough luck to kill a charging grizzly with one lucky shot, think again. It would take a high power rifle with some aim time to make a well placed shot to get the job done. A hand gun, even a .45 S&W, would be sheer luck!
Thanks to Pelican Parts for this forum and the chance to view and discuss our fabulous Porsche cars! Included pic of wolf my wife took in early spring, enjoy.
Fish on!
Ron
