Montana Grizzly Bear Attack

This week two campers were mauled and a third was killed by a grizzly bear just outside Yellowstone Park.  According to reports the campers were in three separate tents, had done everything right (such as how they handled food supplies) and yet each was dragged from their tents and badly attacked. The location was at the Soda Butte campground which is short distance from Cooke City, MT.  Jon and I are planning to spend the night in Cooke City so this really grabbed my attention.

                            

Here's an ABC news report on the event:  Bear Attack

In a separate event, noted naturalist and TV personality Jack Hanna also had a close encounter with a grizzly sow and two 150 pound cubs this week: Jack Hanna Encounter

Jack Hanna attributes his success in preventing an outright attack to the use of pepper spray, although it took three shots to do the job.  Mr. Hanna reported that this bear came straight at him and eventually got within 10 feet, weathering the first two applications of spray.  Most experts strongly recommend bear spray over the use of firearms.

Jon and I are fully aware of the risk of traveling in bear country and we will be doing so on several days.  While the odds of a bear attack such as the one that just took place in Montana are slight, it is still something that we will plan for.  Our plan is to purchase bear spray in Cody as soon as we get there and we will carry it whenever we are in bear country.  We think that a bear encounter a possibility in Cody and on our trip into Slough Creek.