I agree, but it is a bit complicated with managing the crowds. I guess if they hired a ranger to patrol the area it would help a lot, but I doubt they would do that. Perhaps volunteers could help.

Statistics: Posted by billandkaren — Sat Nov 02, 2019 3:49 pm

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Author: billandkaren

Posted: November 2, 2019, 9:49 pm

Police the crowds and let the bears be. It's their home, we're just visiting.

Statistics: Posted by RikWriter — Sat Nov 02, 2019 12:12 pm

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Author: RikWriter

Posted: November 2, 2019, 6:12 pm

On October 25 Karen and I were driving over Togwotee Pass on our way to our place in Idaho when we saw the grizzly sow named Felicia and her cub, Pepper, right by the road (see our trip report). While it was a fantastic experience, it also showed the potential for a bad outcome for people and/or the bears. As I metioned in the trip report, the bears approached the road with the people standing outside their cars. At my prompting those of us who were closest got in our cars but there were those who were just a few cars away that did not. Worse than that, after she crossed the road and was on the fence, a woman with a camera walked over behind a car that had just pulled over to get that close-up shot. She was probably about 10-15 feet away. Apparently the woman thought she was safe because she was standing behind the car, but if the bear had wanted she could have been on her instantly. Instead Felicia moved off the fence and down the hill.

I have been critical of the Wyoming wildlife officials for their attitudes towards the grizzlies in general and Felicia/Pepper in particular. But I do see that they are faced with a dilema. If they do nothing, some idiot will eventually try to pet the bear or do something almost that stupid. The two times I have observed Felicia, she has seemed comfortable with the people around and not aggressive at all. However, we all know that any bear can be potentially dangerous and can turn at any time, sometimes for good reasons or sometimes for no reason. The first time I observed her was in June and even though there were more people, they gave her plenty of room as she moved closer to the road. This last time, however, there were a number of people who were very complacent as she came to the road and the woman I mentioned who was just asking for trouble.

Also, there is the danger with speeding vehicles. On the 25th there wasn't much traffic and what there was was not moving very fast as the road in that area was mostly snow covered. However, when the road is clear, there are a lot of trucks and cars that speed along which could be deadly for the bears or the people that swerve to avoid them.

So, the question is should the wildlife officials do something, and if so, what could they do to help the situation?

Statistics: Posted by billandkaren — Sat Nov 02, 2019 12:10 am

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Author: billandkaren

Posted: November 2, 2019, 6:10 am

Went over the pass on October 2 and didn't see the bears. However, we were hosting a small school group and when they came over on Sunday, October 6, Felicia and Pepper were digging in the snow at the pass. For most of the kids it was their first grizzly bear! They really enjoyed hearing the story about their separation and reunion. Hope they make it and the wildlife officials leave them alone.

Bill

Statistics: Posted by billandkaren — Fri Oct 11, 2019 7:20 pm

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Author: billandkaren

Posted: October 12, 2019, 1:20 am

Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bom3s-jDa98

She was apparently treated and released the same day, so not hurt too badly.

Another person was injured by a bison just a week later in North Dakota: https://www.usatoday.com/story/travel/n ... 855539001/

Statistics: Posted by powderedtoastman — Thu Sep 26, 2019 3:43 pm

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Author: powderedtoastman

Posted: September 26, 2019, 9:43 pm

billandkaren wrote: ↑

Fri Sep 20, 2019 7:40 pm

I don't trust the Wyoming wildlife officials. I hope this is not a set-up for an excuse to do away with the two bears. I will be driving over the pass in about 10 days. If I see or hear anything, I'll post it.

As for 610, it is good to hear she is still with us. I had not heard anything about sightings for the last year. What I heard was 610 was in the area on Signal Mountain, but there were also some black bears. The report of bears being fed was not definitive on whether it was black or grizzly bears that were actually fed. Never know, it may have been both. Some people are just idiots.

It also might have been neither. A lot of these reports wind up being rumor.

Statistics: Posted by RikWriter — Sat Sep 21, 2019 11:49 am

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Author: RikWriter

Posted: September 21, 2019, 5:49 pm

I don't trust the Wyoming wildlife officials. I hope this is not a set-up for an excuse to do away with the two bears. I will be driving over the pass in about 10 days. If I see or hear anything, I'll post it.

As for 610, it is good to hear she is still with us. I had not heard anything about sightings for the last year. What I heard was 610 was in the area on Signal Mountain, but there were also some black bears. The report of bears being fed was not definitive on whether it was black or grizzly bears that were actually fed. Never know, it may have been both. Some people are just idiots.

Statistics: Posted by billandkaren — Fri Sep 20, 2019 7:40 pm

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Author: billandkaren

Posted: September 21, 2019, 1:40 am

Steve wrote: ↑

Sat Sep 07, 2019 2:48 pm

I hope not.
I guess you read about people feeding 610 up Signal Mtn. I'm kinda touchy about bad behavior around grizzlies lately.

I heard reports of bears being fed up there, but never heard anyone confirm it was 610.

Statistics: Posted by RikWriter — Sat Sep 07, 2019 8:56 pm

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Author: RikWriter

Posted: September 8, 2019, 2:56 am

I hope not.
I guess you read about people feeding 610 up Signal Mtn. I'm kinda touchy about bad behavior around grizzlies lately.

Statistics: Posted by Steve — Sat Sep 07, 2019 2:48 pm

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Author: Steve

Posted: September 7, 2019, 8:48 pm

Yeah but I have talked to people who've been out there and no one ever could come up with any incident being reported where the bears had been fed.

Statistics: Posted by RikWriter — Sat Sep 07, 2019 2:42 pm

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Author: RikWriter

Posted: September 7, 2019, 8:42 pm

I dunno. The press report uses the word AND

"Additionally, these bears may have already received food from humans and have accessed an unattended stringer of fish "

Statistics: Posted by Steve — Sat Sep 07, 2019 2:19 pm

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Author: Steve

Posted: September 7, 2019, 8:19 pm

As far as anyone can tell, that "suspected feeding" is based on the fact that the sow stole one unattended stringer of fish.

Statistics: Posted by RikWriter — Sat Sep 07, 2019 9:16 am

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Author: RikWriter

Posted: September 7, 2019, 3:16 pm

Bridger-Teton NF issued an advisory on these bears. People too close and suspected feeding them. Please respect the bears.

Statistics: Posted by Steve — Sat Sep 07, 2019 8:47 am

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Author: Steve

Posted: September 7, 2019, 2:47 pm

Thanks for the video. Truly an amazing story. Makes you wonder what we don't know and understand about the animal world. And it makes me so happy that these magnificent animals have been saved from the trophy hunts, but for how long???

Statistics: Posted by billandkaren — Fri Sep 06, 2019 8:50 pm

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Author: billandkaren

Posted: September 7, 2019, 2:50 am

Here's a video from September 1 (not mine):

https://www.facebook.com/bernie.scates. ... 166461501/

Another video (not mine) that is a little older:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zZsOeOJ ... ture=share

Statistics: Posted by Nikon_nerd — Fri Sep 06, 2019 7:50 am

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Author: Nikon_nerd

Posted: September 6, 2019, 1:50 pm