Montana hiker found dead after suspected grizzly bear attack

[Dial H For Hero]

https://www.cnn.com/2022/03/25/us/montana-hiker-found-dead/index.html

CNN)A hiker who had been reported missing in Montana earlier this week was found dead Friday after a suspected encounter with a grizzly bear.

Sheriff Brad Bichler of the Park County Sheriff's Office told CNN Craig Clouatre, 40, was hiking with a friend Wednesday in the Six Mile Creek area, which is about 20-25 miles north of Yellowstone National Park, when they split up.

"It is with a very heavy heart that I am writing this update. After an extensive search this morning we have located Craig," Bichler said in a Facebook post.

"It appears he had an encounter with a grizzly and unfortunately did not survive," Bicher's post said.

(Excerpt)

[Wingus Dingus]

1. Why split up and go it alone, in grizzly country?

Stupid.

[2naSalit]

3. +1

I spent years doing public outreach and ed about safety in bear country. I used to patrol that very basin on my last tour of duty. Last time I was up there, I was documenting bear signs and collecting bear fur on the gate at the trailhead. They like to chew on the treated fence posts used by the FS.

They should never have separated. Don't go into the back country with someone you aren't "tight" with, could be lethal. Wonder if they had bear spray.

[Wingus Dingus]

5. I get jittery enough hiking in Colorado, which (probably) does not have grizzlies

but does have of course plenty of mountain lions and black bears. I attach our car keys to my hiking pole to make every step jingle so we don't surprise anything as we come through. We talk, we make loud footsteps, we carry bear spray too. My son went on bike trails by himself for a while in northern Colorado but stopped when CO parks and wildlife warned of mountain lions in those areas. It's just common sense--if you want to do solo walks or rides, go where other people are.

[2naSalit]

6. Or areas known to not be frequented by such predators.

Also, if you go out to the wild to jog or whatever, please do not wear earbuds or phones! Listen to your surroundings, your life actually does depend on it as well as the life of the bear.

A lot of folks think black bears aren't as dangerous as grizzlies are seriously mistaken. A bear is a bear and if you happen to be a thing made out of meat, you could be game. A black bear is more likely to kill you for food than a griz. The griz is responding to perceived threat or challenging you for food you have, like a freshly killed elk in hunting season, only a small set of cases of grizzly fatalities result in the victim being eaten where the rate for black bear kills is much higher*. Both are omnivores so...


Bear spray works on most mammals.

* I don't have current or recent data right now. If I get ambitious I'll see if I can track that down.

[MineralMan]

2. I feel for his family.

Hiking alone in grizzly bear country can be dangerous, for sure.

[2naSalit]

4. IS dangerous...

Every moment one is there. Your actions and understanding of the danger is what determines your probability of coming back out intact.

[PJMcK]

7. We have black bears in the forrest around our mountain house

They tend to stay away from people but we find evidence of them, usually on my lawn. The bear doesn't shit in the woods, he does it in my yard!

We've seen them numerous times from the safety of the house. Once, a mama with her cub were snooping around behind the house. They are beautiful animals and they're welcome to the forrest.