Bears, Moose, and Cougars--oh my! (Bozeman, Whitefish: home, camp, live)

[CountryGal27]

Okay, I'm just wondering if any of you Montanians or the like have ever had any real close encounters with any wildlife in Montana...looking for some interesting stories....

[Gman2007]

I know I took out a couple tail feathers from a pheasant on the way home from work the other day.... or was that not the kind of story you were looking for?

[CountryGal27]

Originally Posted by Gman2007

I know I took out a couple tail feathers from a pheasant on the way home from work the other day.... or was that not the kind of story you were looking for?

Wellllllllllll, its a start!

[allforcats]

Once upon a time, on a night in late October, I drove west out of Whitefish on 93 past Olney, past the Upper Stillwater, not as far as Stryker but in the area were there're a couple of forest service roads off 93. I had been visiting a friend for dinner and thought I'd go home backwards: instead of driving into Whitefish where I lived, I would drive out into the almost-darkness with a small moon, to watch the stars and see if I could see any northern lights.

I pulled off onto one of those service roads and drove only a few yards, turned off the lights, cut the engine, and listened. Air... So I got out of the car, leaned against the warm hood, and looked up. Stars and stars and stars, stars beyond stars, stars on top of stars, stars...

I don't know how long I lost earth-sense, sinking into the stars in bliss. And I heard -- not quite something, almost something. My head turned in the direction of the not-something. And she stood still, looking at me, a mountain lion. She wasn't near; in the almost-darkness I couldn't see her eyes clearly. But I could see her body against the trees, felt her presence, almost felt the warmth of her. Forty feet away? Fifty? Not much more, I think.

We looked at each other, for a minute? More? I felt a joy, a sweetness, a simplicity, a calm peacefulness I had never known.

Gone. She vanished into the trees. But I could hear her, this time something, footsteps, a twig or two. She let me hear her walk away! I got it! - she'd had the same peaceful experience in my presence that I'd had in hers. Two ladies of the mountain... and love.

[jimj]

Originally Posted by allforcats

Once upon a time, on a night in late October, I drove west out of Whitefish on 93 past Olney, past the Upper Stillwater, not as far as Stryker but in the area were there're a couple of forest service roads off 93. I had been visiting a friend for dinner and thought I'd go home backwards: instead of driving into Whitefish where I lived, I would drive out into the almost-darkness with a small moon, to watch the stars and see if I could see any northern lights.

I pulled off onto one of those service roads and drove only a few yards, turned off the lights, cut the engine, and listened. Air... So I got out of the car, leaned against the warm hood, and looked up. Stars and stars and stars, stars beyond stars, stars on top of stars, stars...

I don't know how long I lost earth-sense, sinking into the stars in bliss. And I heard -- not quite something, almost something. My head turned in the direction of the not-something. And she stood still, looking at me, a mountain lion. She wasn't near; in the almost-darkness I couldn't see her eyes clearly. But I could see her body against the trees, felt her presence, almost felt the warmth of her. Forty feet away? Fifty? Not much more, I think.

We looked at each other, for a minute? More? I felt a joy, a sweetness, a simplicity, a calm peacefulness I had never known.

Gone. She vanished into the trees. But I could hear her, this time something, footsteps, a twig or two. She let me hear her walk away! I got it! - she'd had the same peaceful experience in my presence that I'd had in hers. Two ladies of the mountain... and love.

Or she'd just eaten and wasn't hungry...
We've run into bear out 4 wheeling, moose and elk within 20 yards and daily deer and fox within feet of us as recent as 2 days ago.
Coyotes and/or wolves about monthly walk through the yard and cats have stalked some of my friends in their yards.

[Rickers]

While on the Camas road in G.N.P. we saw a wolverine on the side of the road and we stopped. It came right up to our car door and stood there looking at me. I think it was really sick, it didn't look good at all.

[CountryGal27]

Originally Posted by allforcats

Once upon a time, on a night in late October, I drove west out of Whitefish on 93 past Olney, past the Upper Stillwater, not as far as Stryker but in the area were there're a couple of forest service roads off 93. I had been visiting a friend for dinner and thought I'd go home backwards: instead of driving into Whitefish where I lived, I would drive out into the almost-darkness with a small moon, to watch the stars and see if I could see any northern lights.

I pulled off onto one of those service roads and drove only a few yards, turned off the lights, cut the engine, and listened. Air... So I got out of the car, leaned against the warm hood, and looked up. Stars and stars and stars, stars beyond stars, stars on top of stars, stars...

I don't know how long I lost earth-sense, sinking into the stars in bliss. And I heard -- not quite something, almost something. My head turned in the direction of the not-something. And she stood still, looking at me, a mountain lion. She wasn't near; in the almost-darkness I couldn't see her eyes clearly. But I could see her body against the trees, felt her presence, almost felt the warmth of her. Forty feet away? Fifty? Not much more, I think.

We looked at each other, for a minute? More? I felt a joy, a sweetness, a simplicity, a calm peacefulness I had never known.

Gone. She vanished into the trees. But I could hear her, this time something, footsteps, a twig or two. She let me hear her walk away! I got it! - she'd had the same peaceful experience in my presence that I'd had in hers. Two ladies of the mountain... and love.

That's great!

[CountryGal27]

Originally Posted by jimj

Or she'd just eaten and wasn't hungry...
We've run into bear out 4 wheeling, moose and elk within 20 yards and daily deer and fox within feet of us as recent as 2 days ago.
Coyotes and/or wolves about monthly walk through the yard and cats have stalked some of my friends in their yards.

Bear while 4-wheeling? The engine noise doesn't scare them off?

[Solidwood]

Bozeman Daily Chronicle-











Grizzly attacks hikers near Shoshone Lake in Yellowstone
By SCOTT McMILLION, Chronicle Staff Writer
Two men were attacked by a grizzly bear in Yellowstone National Park Wednesday, but escaped serious injury.

Pat McDonald, 52, of Bismarck, N.D., and Gerald Holzer, 51, of Northfield, Minn., were hiking on a trail near Shoshone Lake in the park's southern portion when they noticed fresh bear scat, the National Park Service announced late Thursday.

They were on their way to a backcountry camp site and decided to continue, although they "began making noise in an attempt to deter a possible bear encounter," a news release said.

About a quarter-mile further along the trail, they crossed a knoll and "were charged by a grizzly at full stride," the release said.

Holzer, who was in front, side-stepped the bear.
McDonald stepped behind some trees and dropped to the ground. The bear ran past him, but returned and swatted at him, then turned to Holzer, who had dropped to the ground and was lying on his stomach.

The bear jumped on Holzer's back, swatted at him, then retreated about 50 yards "where they could hear it snorting."

Huffs and snorts are signs of an agitated bear.

McDonald then began removing the wrist straps from his hiking poles so he could reach the bear spray at his waist. Then the bear attacked, and started working on McDonald's leg.

Nevertheless, he was able to retrieve the spray and doused the bear in the face. The bear then ran off.

The two men then hiked four miles to the trailhead and drove to the clinic at Old Faithful for treatment.

McDonald suffered a puncture wound to his leg. Holzer was uninjured, as his backpack protected him during the attack.

Bears are now entering hyperphagia, a period of intense feeding in an effort to store fat for the coming winter's sleep. Since they are so focused on food, people using the woods at this time of year need to use extra diligence.

Also, while most experts advise people to hit the ground and lay on their stomach if an attack is inevitable, they also say to remain motionless until they are certain the bear has left the area.

Most bear attacks result from surprise encounters or a perception on the bear's part that a person poses a threat.

Bear attacks are seldom fatal, and usually end when a bear perceives that the threat has been neutralized.

Remaining motionless can reinforce that perception.

But bears sometimes return for a second attack if a victim moves or makes sounds before the bear leaves for good.

[ElkHunter]

Originally Posted by CountryGal27

Bear while 4-wheeling? The engine noise doesn't scare them off?

There's not much that will scare off a bear. Many times they'll just stand up and look because they're curious.

They are much the same as Jackalopes. Not really afraid of anything. But with a Jackalope, if you encounter one with a 4-wheeler, get out of there. Travel in a straight line, as turning will do nothing but allow the Jackalope to catch up. They can turn on a dime, but if you can run straight, you can possibly out distance them.