Wyoming Wildlife magazine - 30

T

Rangers in Grand Teton National Park try to keep people and grizzly bear No. 610 safe as the bear crosses the road. (Photo by Peter Mangolds)

he memory is almost dreamlike,
although I'll admit it felt a bit like
a dream when it happened, too.
One afternoon, while in Yellowstone National Park photographing
the elk rut, I drove up to Dunraven
Pass and spotted a boulder near the road that offered
a great place to take a scenic photo. As I sat soaking in
the sun, I heard a rock tumble below me. I peered over
the boulder and saw a grizzly bear turning over rocks
looking for grubs or moths only 100 yards below me.
I froze and went through the mental gymnastics
of a photographer who'd never seen a grizzly before.
" How much danger am I in? What should I do?
Dang, I have the wrong lens on the camera. If I sneak
up to the truck, will it be here when I get back? "
Those jumbled thoughts mattered little as I felt
a whiff of breeze on my neck as my scent alerted
the bear to my presence. Instantly, the grizzly stood
and looked directly at me. Unhurried, but committed, it turned and melted into the timber behind
it. I remember letting out a deep breath, my heart
pounding. Then, where it had disappeared, I spotted

30 | December 2020	

slight movement, then a nose, one eye, another eye
and finally the bear's face peering around a lodgepole
pine. I raised my camera and, with shaking hands,
tripped the shutter. Again. Once more. Refocusing,
the face disappeared - gone.
This kind of experience can only be found in four
states of the lower 48, and the best chance of witnessing the raw beauty and charm of grizzly bears is
in Wyoming. Grand Teton and Yellowstone national
parks are premier locations for getting a glimpse of a
bear. Outside of the parks you might get lucky, and
those chances are increasing as grizzly populations
increase in density and distribution.
With more bears spotted along roadsides, these
glimpses come with unique challenges for state wildlife
managers. With people traveling down highways at
high speeds, stopping on roadways to view bears and
sometimes getting too close to these large animals,
personnel from multiple groups and agencies must
work together to keep people and grizzlies safe.
" These are wild animals, " said Brian DeBolt, Wyoming Game and Fish Department large carnivore
conflict coordinator. " While they may appear tame



Wyoming Wildlife magazine

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Wyoming Wildlife magazine

Cover
From the director
In this issue
A couple pennies
Mailbag
Opening shot
News
Griz on the Go poster
Ask Game and Fish
Grizzly Glossary
Bruin Challenges
Allure of the grizzly
Grizzly Q&A
Wild Country Dispatch
Backpage
Wyoming Wildlife magazine - Cover
Wyoming Wildlife magazine - From the director
Wyoming Wildlife magazine - In this issue
Wyoming Wildlife magazine - A couple pennies
Wyoming Wildlife magazine - Mailbag
Wyoming Wildlife magazine - Opening shot
Wyoming Wildlife magazine - 7
Wyoming Wildlife magazine - News
Wyoming Wildlife magazine - Griz on the Go poster
Wyoming Wildlife magazine - 10
Wyoming Wildlife magazine - 11
Wyoming Wildlife magazine - Ask Game and Fish
Wyoming Wildlife magazine - Grizzly Glossary
Wyoming Wildlife magazine - Bruin Challenges
Wyoming Wildlife magazine - 15
Wyoming Wildlife magazine - 16
Wyoming Wildlife magazine - 17
Wyoming Wildlife magazine - 18
Wyoming Wildlife magazine - 19
Wyoming Wildlife magazine - 20
Wyoming Wildlife magazine - 21
Wyoming Wildlife magazine - 22
Wyoming Wildlife magazine - 23
Wyoming Wildlife magazine - 24
Wyoming Wildlife magazine - 25
Wyoming Wildlife magazine - 26
Wyoming Wildlife magazine - 27
Wyoming Wildlife magazine - Allure of the grizzly
Wyoming Wildlife magazine - 29
Wyoming Wildlife magazine - 30
Wyoming Wildlife magazine - 31
Wyoming Wildlife magazine - 32
Wyoming Wildlife magazine - 33
Wyoming Wildlife magazine - 34
Wyoming Wildlife magazine - 35
Wyoming Wildlife magazine - Grizzly Q&A
Wyoming Wildlife magazine - 37
Wyoming Wildlife magazine - 38
Wyoming Wildlife magazine - 39
Wyoming Wildlife magazine - 40
Wyoming Wildlife magazine - 41
Wyoming Wildlife magazine - 42
Wyoming Wildlife magazine - 43
Wyoming Wildlife magazine - 44
Wyoming Wildlife magazine - 45
Wyoming Wildlife magazine - Wild Country Dispatch
Wyoming Wildlife magazine - 47
Wyoming Wildlife magazine - Backpage
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