I had written about this grizzly 10 days ago, but the story got lost by “WordPress, so we’ll try it again.
How would like like to encounter this dinner-plate size pad taking a swipe at your “noggin?” Those claws must be 4-5 inches long! You can see why grizzlies rule the roost in the wilderness. I always thought that grizzlies here in the lower 48 were somewhat smaller than their northern cousins. This one certainly debunks that theory. By the picture on the back of the flat bed I would have to guess this big boy at 700-800 pounds.
There are several stories floating around about this bear as to how he died. He was hit by a semi, a pick-up, or an unfortunate motorcyclist! Take your pick. All I know for sure is that he was hit, by something in Montana, just over the Idaho state line. This big “Griz” was aged at 13 years old, and was on the Montana Wildlife’s Division “hit list.” He was well known in the area for breaking into cabins, sheds, and anything else he wanted, in search for something edible. There was a plan to either trap and relocate, or put him down due to his marauding. The mountain pass encounter with “steel and wheels” solved a problem, but that’s not the way you want one of these magnificent creatures to check out. In thinking about an encounter with one of these brutes I would rather be sitting in the cab of a semi, than standing in my hiking boots, with two nice rainbows in my backpack, and a fly-rod in my puny little hand!
we are planning on going bear hunting the first of April… and you are scaring me with these bear pictures and stories!… seriously, I agree with you on wanting to being in a big rig when you meet up with a monster like this!