Bear Tracks

15/02/2021

We will eagerly take note of how the new Biden Administration prioritizes environmental and wildlife issues. We have far to go but remain hopeful this 2021!

14/02/2021

As the grizzlies continue to hibernate we wish you a Happy Valentine’s Day to you and your loved ones! 🤍🐾

08/02/2021

An essential step to protecting grizzly bears is protecting their habitats. This includes having respect for wildlife when recreating in public/ national parks - or wherever you are! Remember that you are a visitor but bears and other wildlife rely on these beautiful places to survive.

01/02/2021

Conserving habitat is one of the most important aspects of protecting this essential species.

#399

11/01/2021

https://bear-tracks.org/2021/01/11/where-we-meet-the-wild-growth-of-western-communities-requires-elevated-stewardship/

Check out our latest article by Chris Gerard- link in bio. It’s an insightful discussion of why so many new arrivals are drawn to the beauty and wildness of Western landscapes, and that community growth requires us to expand our collective efforts of stewardship if we are to maintain what drew us all here in the first place.

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Some people are calling it the Great American Migration of 2020. It’s the allure of the countryside. The appeal of long horizons, natural landscapes, wildlife, and the silence that accompanies unoc…

04/01/2021

To bring on this New Year with reflection and hope, here is a brand new Bear Tracks article by our very own John Robinson! We wish you a prosperous and safe 2021 and look forward to furthering our understanding of grizzly bears and their importance in the ecosystem.

https://bear-tracks.org/2021/01/04/glancing-back-moving-ahead-a-grizzly-2020/

We don’t have to tell you that, for most people, grizzly bears were not the number one news story of 2020. In fact, it’s probably fair to say that last year was the worst year in recent history dur…

29/12/2020

Check out our newest story on a survey conducted on Montanans regarding bears. Spoiler alert: they’re mostly positive! This is essential, as it shows that Montanans do see the beauty and importance of this majestic keystone species. https://bear-tracks.org/2020/12/28/new-survey-shows-clear-support-for-grizzlies-in-montana-but-differing-opinions-on-management/

02/12/2020

It’s December! Although many grizzlies will have settled into hibernation by now, stay as many bruins are still consuming the last life-giving calories that will see them through the winter. 📸: Savannah Rose

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20/11/2020

If you live in bear country, make sure to keep attractants locked away, out of reach of bears. This includes your car! Throw away any candy wrappers, fruity drinks, anything that can lure in a bear’s powerful scent. As these bears prepare to sleep for several months, they are even more interested in eating and so it’s even more important for us to wisely with them.

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15/11/2020

Although snow has fallen around many of us, it’s important to stay , as many grizzlies have not yet retreated to their winter dens. 📸: Savannah Rose

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14/11/2020

Beautiful grizzly sow by Tristan Adler. Be sure to check out our website for important articles on grizzly conservation and coexistence. Bear Tracks is dedicated to encouraging conversations about grizzly bears in the western United States. https://bear-tracks.org

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12/11/2020

More and more hunters are citing bear spray as their preferred means of protection against grizzly bears. Because hunters often engage in behavior counter to bear awareness- being quiet, walking alone, gutting carcasses- it’s especially important for them to be safe. Bear spray can save both you and an endangered grizzly bear’s life! Check out this article for more information about hunter safety in bear territory:

https://bear-tracks.org/2020/10/21/hunting-in-grizzly-country-smart-choices-keep-bears-and-hunters-safe/

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11/11/2020

Although most grizzly bear diet consists of vegetation and insects, they are still incredibly adept and powerful hunters. This image by Trent Sizemore (Trent Sizemore Photography) depicts result of an epic and much-talked-about takedown of a bull elk by a male grizzly in the Yellowstone River. During hyperphagia, when bears gorge in order to survive hibernation, such prizes are coveted, guarded, and munched on until there is nothing left. Because grizzlies, especially this huge male, are so large, they can take long naps by a carcass as other predators like wolves and smaller bears won’t disturb.

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10/11/2020

A fluffy grizz to start your Monday off! 📸: Oliver Eickelberg

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08/11/2020

Grizzly 399 update! Thankfully, 399 and her cubs have made it back safely into the park, away from neighborhoods and more dangerous roads. She may venture back out before hibernation, but we should trust in her abilities as an old, successful female. Still always drive slowly and have respect for our wildlife, not just our wildlife celebrities! 📸: Savannah Rose

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06/11/2020

Our choice in government leaders strongly affects wildlife- like it or love it, politics often make the final decisions regarding conservation, whether through funding or policy. These choices are not just for us, but for grizzlies (and their large landscape homes in the West, too). Drew Higgins gives us a snapshot of where we can expect some better, brighter days ahead on this front. 🐻🇺🇸

https://bear-tracks.org/2020/11/06/what-biden-means-for-bears/

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05/11/2020

If you need a moment to de-stress, here are some adorable grizzly cubs 🐻🐻

📸: Neil Simmons

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01/11/2020

Grizzly bears are part of our heritage. No nagger your age, you can appreciate the role grizzlies have in multiple ecosystems. Being bear aware helps ensure both of our safeties, and keeps our grizzlies wild. Read the full story “The Grizzly’s Value” by Christen Girard. https://bear-tracks.org/2020/09/28/the-grizzlys-value/

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30/10/2020

Beautiful grizzly sow by Oliver Eickelberg

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28/10/2020

Famous grizzly bear 399, with her four cubs in tow, has recently been seen farther south in Teton County than she has ever ventured before. Her exploits have taken her to residential neighborhoods and across busy roads. Grizzly bears are currently in a state known as hyperphagia in which an adult be...

27/10/2020

Legendary Grizz 399 on the move- her four cubs no doubt nearby! The term “mama bear” comes from grizzly mothers’ innate defensiveness of their cubs. This defensiveness may be due to the low reproductive rate of grizzlies- every cub is years of work and survival, essential to the gene pool. Regardless, “mama bear” is a term that endears us to these animals, and reminds us that bears and humans have much in common. 📸: Oliver Eickelberg

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26/10/2020

Grizzly bears often become local celebrities in areas where wildlife tourism booms - the continued story of beloved grizzly #399 and her four fluffy cubs are tribute to this. For wildlife guides like Trevor of Guides of Jackson Hole, grizzly bears offer a chance to show clients a glimpse of true American wilderness. Grizzlies have held deep places in many cultures for centuries. Their value is not to be taken for granted.
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25/10/2020

Family photo time! Doesn’t this look like it should be a Christmas card for the grizzly #399 family?

On average, grizzly bears have 2-3 cubs. 399 was born in 1996, making her 24 years old. The average lifespan for a wild grizzly is 20-25 years old. 399 is an incredible bear, not just because of her longevity, but her success as a mother. All four cubs have survived to see their first winter. Grizzly cubs stay with their mothers for 2-3 years. 📸: Oliver Eickelberg

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24/10/2020

Coexistence is the key to grizzly bear conservation. Learning how to live with an apex predator like a grizzly bear may seem daunting, even impossible, but with the right steps, it becomes second nature. Bears are vital to their ecosystems, to many cultures, and to our livelihoods. We at least owe it to them to give them respect and peace. 📸: Oliver Eickelberg

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23/10/2020

The voices behind grizzly bear conservation are all vital, and all must be listened to. Bear Tracks dedicates ourselves to amplifying all these important voices through meaningful conversations and journalism.

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22/10/2020

Grizzly bears and hunters can coexist safely. Check out our newest article on hunter safety in grizzly bear country: https://bear-tracks.org/2020/10/21/hunting-in-grizzly-country-smart-choices-keep-bears-and-hunters-safe/

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21/10/2020

Hunter safety is vital for both humans and bears. The most incidents between grizzlies and humans occurs during hunting season, usually over a hunter’s kill that lures the protected grizzly in. Our own Chris Girard had a fascinating and insightful chat with John Meyer, the Executive Director of the Cottonwood Environmental Law Center and a bow hunter. He shares some wonderful philosophy around hunting and conservation, as well as some practical tips on staying safe (and keeping bears safe!) while hunting in grizzly country.

https://bear-tracks.org/2020/10/21/hunting-in-grizzly-country-smart-choices-keep-bears-and-hunters-safe/

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Last week, I sat down with John Meyer to discuss some tips for hunting in grizzly country⎼ smart and effective practices that minimize risk, help hunters avoid unwanted bear encounters and, importa…

15/10/2020

“Alive, the grizzly is a symbol of freedom and understanding – a sign that man can learn to conserve what is left of the earth. Extinct, it will be another fading testimony to things man should have learned more about but was too preoccupied with himself to notice. In its beleaguered condition, it is above all a symbol of what man is doing to the entire planet. If we can learn from these experiences, and learn rationally, both grizzly and man may have a chance to survive.” ~ Frank Craighead 📸: Savannah Rose

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14/10/2020

Incoming grizzly! 📸: Oliver Eickelberg

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13/10/2020

As we discuss grizzly bears in the western United States, we must remember those voices who came first, and still exist with bears closer than any other culture. Indigenous people consider bears to be our Relatives, as sacred beings who have much to offer if only we listen.

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11/10/2020

Bear Tracks is dedicated to facilitating conversations on grizzly bears in the Western United States. For all of the latest conversations, be sure to subscribe (it’s free!). 🐾🐻 https://bear-tracks.org

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09/10/2020

A stunning portrait of a grizzly bear, taken by Laney Kohout

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07/10/2020

Grizzly 747 reigns supreme in Katmai National Park’s annual Fat Bear Week! Read our take on this chub-tastic win by John Robinson

https://bear-tracks.org/2020/10/07/long-live-the-fat-bear-king/

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#747

While those of us in the Lower 48 went about our 2020 lives over the last week (we won’t remind you what that looked like, it was possibly the most 2020 week of 2020), the majestic queens and kings…

06/10/2020

Grizzly 399 with her beloved cubs in tow. 🐻🐻🐻🐻 📸: Laney Kohout

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06/10/2020

Why do researchers collar bears? Learn more in this video, and read the subsequent article by Drew Higgins on Bear Tracks now!

https://bear-tracks.org/2020/10/04/capture-collar-why-we-track-grizzlies-and-why-some-believe-we-shouldnt/

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05/10/2020

Check out the latest article from Drew Higgins for Bear Tracks: a fascinating exploration of why researchers collar grizzly bears every year, and the reasons that some people don’t think that’s a great idea.

https://bear-tracks.org/2020/10/04/capture-collar-why-we-track-grizzlies-and-why-some-believe-we-shouldnt/

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How many grizzly bears are out there? Where do they rest and roam? How are bear populations and movements changing over time? The world of wild animals is still in many ways a mystery to us. …

03/10/2020

Check out our newest article, featuring a diversity of folks around Jackson Hole, Wyoming, to find out why they treasure having grizzlies on the landscape.

https://bear-tracks.org/2020/09/28/the-grizzlys-value/

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At a time when some particularly loud voices are calling for delisting grizzly bears from the Endangered Species Act and lobbying for state-sanctioned trophy hunting, and when talk about the future…

01/10/2020

“A grizzly bear stops for a quick drink along the lake shore” by George Bolander of Hillside Images

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30/09/2020

A little grizzly smile for the day 🙂 📸: Oliver Eickelberg

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28/09/2020

Our newest article written by Shawn Bailey on historic Yellowstone policies, offers a thought- provoking look at what used to be considered “acceptable” wildlife management in America’s first national park: https://bear-tracks.org/2020/09/28/the-proper-way-horace-albright-and-yellowstone-bear-policy-in-the-1920s/

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Earlier this spring, wildlife photographer Thomas Mangelsen sent a succinct text to his friend, famed British primatologist Jane Goodall, which read simply: “Miraculously, she still lives!” The sh…