Tag Archives: hiking

Grand Teton grizzly bear No. 399 that delighted visitors for decades is killed by vehicle in Wyoming

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In this undated photo provided by Grand Teton National Park a grizzly bear known as No. 399 stands along side a cub. (C. Adams/Grand Teton National Park via AP)Read More

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FILE – Grizzly bear 399 and her four cubs feed on a deer carcass on Nov. 17, 2020, in southern Jackson Hole. (Ryan Dorgan/Jackson Hole News & Guide via AP, File)Read More

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FILE – Grizzly bear No. 399 and her four cubs cross a road as Cindy Campbell stops traffic in Jackson Hole, Wyo., on Nov. 17, 2020. (Ryan Dorgan/Jackson Hole News & Guide via AP, File)Read More

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In this undated photo provided by Grand Teton National Park a grizzly bear known as No. 399 walks along side a cub. (C. Adams/Grand Teton National Park via AP)Read More

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In this undated photo provided by Grand Teton National Park a grizzly bear known as No. 399 walks along side a cub. (C. Adams/Grand Teton National Park via AP)Read More

By  MEAD GRUVERUpdated 6:09 PM PDT, October 23, 2024Share

CHEYENNE, Wyo. (AP) — A famous grizzly bear beloved for decades by countless tourists, biologists and professional wildlife photographers in Grand Teton National Park is dead after being struck by a vehicle in western Wyoming.

Grizzly No. 399 died Tuesday night on a highway in Snake River Canyon south of Jackson, park officials said in a statement Wednesday, adding the driver was unhurt. A yearling cub was with the grizzly when she was struck and though not believed to have been hurt, its whereabouts were unknown, according to the statement.

The circumstances of the crash were unclear. Grand Teton and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service officials said they had no further information to release about it.

At 28 years old, No. 399 was the oldest known reproducing female grizzly in the Yellowstone ecosystem. Each spring, wildlife enthusiasts eagerly awaited her emergence from her den to see how many cubs she had birthed over the winter — then quickly shared the news online.

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Named for the identity tag affixed by researchers to her ear, the grizzly amazed watchers by continuing to reproduce into old age. Unlike many grizzly bears, she was often seen near roads in Grand Teton, drawing crowds and traffic jams.

https://apnews.com/article/famous-grizzly-399-killed-grand-teton-wyoming-3e13c4b5234926cbd799dbb3db1ffac8

Reported bear attack on Montana camper turns out to be brutal homicide

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https://www.aol.com/reported-bear-attack-montana-camper-102119287.html

Stephen Smith

Updated October 17, 2024 at 12:27 PM

Authorities in Montana say a 911 caller discovered his friend dead in a tent in what appeared to have been a fatal bear attack — but officials soon discovered the camper was actually the victim of a brutal murder.

Dustin Kjersem, 35, was found dead in his tent on Saturday morning along Moose Creek Road north of Big Sky, Montana, Gallatin County Sheriff Dan Springer said at news conference Wednesday. A friend who was supposed to have met Kjersem went searching for him when he didn’t show up as scheduled on Friday.

The friend ultimately discovered Kjersem’s body in a tent at a makeshift campsite and called 911, telling responders the death appeared to have been caused by a bear attack, the sheriff’s office said.

An agent with the Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks agency who visited the site, however, found no signs of bear activity, and investigators said they soon found evidence of a “vicious attack,” which is being investigated as a homicide.

  Dustin Kjersem / Credit: Gallatin County Sheriff's Office
Dustin Kjersem / Credit: Gallatin County Sheriff’s Office

Kjersem, who was last seen on Thursday afternoon, sustained “multiple chop wounds,” including to his skull, an autopsy showed.

“He was brutally killed at his campsite and we need your help,” Springer said, adding that his detectives were working “all hours of day and night to find his killer.”

No suspects have been identified, and Springer said the remote area of the crime scene, where there is no cellphone service, was making the investigation more difficult than most cases.

“People have asked me if there’s a threat to this community and the answer is we don’t know. We don’t have enough information to know at this time,” he said.

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The sheriff urged residents to be careful.

“We do know that someone was out there who killed someone in a very heinous way so if you’re out in the woods you need to be paying attention, you need to remain vigilant,” Springer said.

Kjersem was driving a black 2013 Ford F-150 with a black topper and a silver aluminum ladder rack, and police have asked the public to come forward with any information they might have.

  2013 Ford F-150 / Credit: Gallatin County Sheriff's Office
2013 Ford F-150 / Credit: Gallatin County Sheriff’s Office

“Think of the whole canyon,” Captain Nathan Kamerman said at the news conference. “If you saw something weird in the canyon area, or in town with his truck, please reach out to us.”

Kjersem’s sister Jillian Price called her brother a skilled tradesman and a loving father.

“I asked our community to please find out who did this,” she said. “There is someone in our valley who is capable of truly heinous things.”

Here is what hunters can do to share the woods safely this season in St. Lawrence County

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Posted Sunday, October 13, 2024 8:40 am

https://northcountrynow.com/stories/here-is-what-hunters-can-do-to-share-the-woods-safely-this-season-in-st-lawrence-county,267242

The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) today encouraged outdoor enthusiasts to respectfully share the woods and follow safety precautions this fall and winter. Hikers, nature photographers, leaf peepers, mountain bikers, hunters, and trappers are encouraged to follow safety measures while afield. Regular big game hunting season in the Northern Zone begins Oct. 26 and closes Dec. 8. Bowhunting season for deer and bear is ongoing in the Southern Zone and ends at the beginning of the regular firearms season on Nov. 16.

Tips for hikers and hunters venturing afield this fall include:

  • Tell someone intended destinations and return times. If plans change, notify them;
  • Dress for the weather and plan for both location and elevation changes;
  • Become familiar with planned hiking trails or hunting areas;
  • Wear bright clothing; blaze orange or blaze pink. Bright colors allow hikers and hunters to be seen more easily and from farther away; and,
  • Pack the 10 Essentials, especially a light source, map, and first aid kit.

For more tips on sharing the woods this fall, check out this recent DEC video. 

While hunting-related shooting incidents involving non-hunters are extremely rare, DEC encourages all outdoor adventurers to be aware of the presence of others enjoying New York’s natural resources. Hikers should be aware they may meet hunters bearing firearms or archery equipment while hiking on trails. Hunters are fellow outdoor recreationists and hunting is permitted on Forest Preserve and Conservation Easement lands. Hunters should likewise recognize they may encounter hikers and others enjoying the outdoors.

Hunting is among the most popular forms of wildlife recreation in the state, with almost 600,000 New Yorkers participating. Hunting is safe and economically important, helping to manage wildlife populations and promote family traditions while fostering an understanding and respect for the environment.  

Hunting is safe and is getting safer thanks to the efforts of DEC’s Hunter Education program, volunteer instructors, and the vigilance of hunters. The last few years have been the safest on record with 2021 and 2022 having the fewest ever number of hunting-related shooting incidents, and 2019 and 2023 tying for second.

Hunters looking for solitude can minimize the disturbance associated with other forms of recreation by following a few tips. Before a season opens, when hunters are scouting for the perfect spot or stand location, take the time to check if the planned location is a popular one. Avoid crowding other hunters and recognize that if a hunting location is near a popular hiking spot, noise can be a factor. If a preferred hunting spot is too crowded, identify an alternative location ahead of time.