Grizzlies continue to stay active – hunters need to stay alert

CODY – State wildlife administrators are warning residents, visitors and particularly hunters that bears remain active and dangerous this fall.

On Oct. 3, two hunters in separate areas encountered grizzly bears; both suffered minor injuries. In each case, the hunters surprised a bear which then became aggressive.

Mid-November usually marks the denning period for grizzly bears, but until then, they will remain very active in their search for food.

According to the Wyoming Game and Fish Department, a Casper hunter in the Dubois area chose to “drop and cover” when the bear charged. He was bitten on the buttocks and ankle and the bear left the area.

In a second encounter on the same day, an Oregon hunter near Meeteetse surprised a bear. It charged, knocking the hunter down and biting him on the hand as it ran past.

Game and Fish investigators determined that both bears were acting naturally. No attempt to capture either bear will be made.

When threatened, grizzlies generally exhibit one of three behaviors; grizzlies either run away, bluff charge, or charge with the intent of removing the threat, according to Dennie Hammer, Cody information specialist for the Game and Fish.

A bear that hears or smells something that it cannot identify may stand on its hind legs to get a better look or smell. That is typically not an aggressive behavior. A bear that runs toward you with its head up, ears erect, and stiff legged is probably bluff charging. One that has its head down and ears laid back, however, feels threatened enough to charge, Hammer said.

When there is not time to read the bear’s behavior or to use a deterrent such as bear spray or a firearm, the only viable option is to “drop and cover.”

Lying flat on the ground with your fingers interlocked over your neck is the best way to drop and cover, Hammer said.

To improve the odds of minimizing hunter-bear conflicts, Hammer suggests:

• Carry a bear deterrent and know how to use it. Many aggressive bears have been deterred through the use of bear spray and all hunters should carry it where it can be reached and know how and when to use it.
• Hunters should hunt with a partner and keep relatively close together.
• When using calls, pay close attention to your surroundings, not just the area within which the hunted species is located.
• Continuously watch for bear sign which includes tracks, scats, and diggings and for the bears themselves.
• Retrieve game animals as quickly as possible and watch for approaching bears when field dressing and quartering.
• If game must be left on the ground overnight, separate the carcass from the entrails when field dressing and place the carcass in an area that can be viewed from a distance.
• When retrieving game, make lots of noise; use binoculars to search the area for bears and to determine if the game has been disturbed by bears prior to walking in on the carcass.
• Bears often daybed near food sources.
• If a bear has claimed your carcass, leave the scene and report the incident to the Wyoming Game and Fish Department.