The Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife, and Parks killed two grizzly bears, a male, and a female, after receiving 15 reports from local residents that they were getting into the trash, approaching houses, and going into the campgrounds.
The same male and female bear were previously removed from the area last year but they made the journey all the way back to the same spot last month. Authorities said they recaptured them again on August 16th, 2020, and relocated them, but they were back in the neighborhood by August 25th, 2020.
According to US News, Mark Deleray, the Southwest Montana Regional Supervisor said, “When garbage and other attractants are left unsecured and available to bears, human safety becomes a huge concern, and bear mortalities are the unfortunate result.”
The National Park Service gives up-to-date information to the public on bear-inflicted human injuries and fatalities on its website. One thing it mentions is, since 1979, Yellowstone has had over 118 million visits and during this time only 44 people were injured by a grizzly bear.
“For all park visitors combined, the chances of being injured by a grizzly bear are approximately 1 in 2.7 million visits,” NPS says.
https://www.facebook.com/WildSafeBCKaslo/photos/p.1683464191792301/1683464191792301/?opaqueCursor=AbrkPsl2yPZVl88OEeJHLLBojH8TDMmnzGQVE8RQYHbP30COHo_Q6scZvUmla6FHyn189cjnNSbKr9U2DDHloFYPCmaO-6qMy7SCuFxEvqDW3BNL91NI7enblB7RxmoRmybOE13rY-26XmY8UEEiSEF1u0oKuzPem_YhhCy99Bl8XMQV8pdA-J-2wjWkWUchAqpTIQpi3CoQVx9lhIXx16fCDgObUwtf11LyNxK4Jelw0FfthSWoYvrN2MW_pXmKL5sC3AqRyMhRWja5Zmap1giq98cVsEPFr9jWDAZD6xEGEd99KJXly_pCEVbbA1tP6me3p0aUP5MuOhmoWorQpTBG2lgy5m9JWuj6nxurcBnEMTX6WCI4yf3zJN-t4cHH4CSVd-a9sAhYJhBCTWIoPhADVg7oINCXLl5NXgTiMtITi1ryOGci7sgAB97XIdug1aslUKLDv9XR9QZw128ctCpXI5zUpWDDrxOhagUeT1SNKK96MyTxS2Fdvt450K5UCPxAMj7v5TRBbUm5qZP5ZgBJflP_uCwnR-aSayrU8xsfig165eACqO3La2z6wY2nYl8
Other statistics the National Park Service gives:
- Remain in developed areas, roadsides, and boardwalks: 1 in 59.5 million visits
- Camp in roadside campgrounds: 1 in 26.6 million overnight stays
- Camp in the backcountry: 1 in 1.7 million overnight stays
- Hike in the backcountry: 1 in 232,613 person travel days
- All park activities combined: 1 in 2.7 million visits
It’s safe to say you probably won’t be attacked by a grizzly bear but it’s always better to be safe than sorry, so make sure you’re prepared and stay alert when in bear country.