So last month, I went out riding twice, and each time saw a Grizzly bear. I’ve never seen one outside of a National Park, Zoo, or expected area. I saw, what I believe to be sub adult Grizzlies in my 2 encounters. Each time, about 1/4 mile apart, and I’m 75% sure different bears. They are unmistakable if you know what your looking at vs a black bear. I hunt black bear, and FWP requires a bear identification test to be issued the license, and I pass it year after year.
I am camping in areas where your are fined $300 on the spot if you have anything out food/beverage related that you aren’t holding, or cooking. Coolers are suspended in tree’s 30ft off the ground, or in your car, hard-side camper, or your fined. So its serious Grizzly country, and enforced.
So, pic 1, I’m coming around a bend at 20 mph, I don’t see the grizzly at all, and suddenly out of the blue, he is in the road, entering from the right side, running uphill away from me at 30 yards. I am not even sure what I am looking at, he is in he shade of the forest, then BAM! In the light, I see small round ears, huge hump, and a beautiful brown coat, and he straight up puts 60 yards between us in seconds. I was still going 20mph, and he flat smoked me up the hill, and disappeared off the left side of the trail. I have no side arm, just my bear spray and I’m like…WTF. I’m 2 miles south of 1.5 million acres of one of the nations largest wilderness complexes. I’m on a dead end road.
So, I ride up to the end of the road, wait 30 minutes, then venture 9 miles back to camp, to sleep in my tent. (I’m crazy). And what I see in the road, is my final Proof of a Grizzly encounter!
1. This is the bend. He entered from the right, then up 100 yards or so, and off to left.
2. This is the size of a 8×11.5 paper, its a massive amount. You can see his piss too. Yuk!
3. Look closely at lower part, you see black pyramid things…gee what are those?
4. HERE they are….what the hell are those?? Those are white tail fawn hooves.
