Image via WikipediaRecently, I talked about our huge adventure to Yellowstone so it was with amazement and trepidation that we read about a hiker in Yellowstone that was fatally mauled by a grizzly.
The attack occurred in an area WE visited. When we were there, many signs were posted telling us to beware of bears, especially bears with cubs since they will attack when they feel their cubs are in danger. In fact, many trails were closed because a nursing bear was spotted in the area.
The couple that was attacked has been to Yellowstone four times and was aware of the warnings. When we were there, a record amount of snow had fallen throughout the winter and was still on the ground in some parts even though it was nearly June. That snowfall prevented the bears from moving to higher elevations, away from trails and humans.
The warning is to NEVER SURPRIZE a mother bear with cubs and so on our hikes we made a lot of noise. You are also suppose to carry “bear spray” and we bought some BUT I don’t know if I would stand and wait for a charging grizzly to come close enough for me to use the spray; I definitely would have soiled myself long before he got close.
The couple spotted the grizzly and cubs 100 yards ahead and turned around immediately and started walking / running away and the grizzly caught up with the man who yelled for his wife to run. What she did was play dead and after picking her up by her backpack, the grizzly wandered off.
We were debating on what we would have done in the same situation recounting all the instructions by park rangers BUT the instructions are confusing: play dead, fetal position, prone position, stand your ground they are only bluffing, etc. We came to the conclusion that we should carry a “bear gun” whenever we go hiking in bear country but you can’t carry weapons while travelling unless you drove to Wyoming
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