Hungry grizzlies pose danger

Hungry grizzlies pose danger

Associated Press

BILLINGS, Mont.

Yellowstone’s grizzlies are going to be particularly hungry this fall, and that means more dangerous meetings with humans in a year that is already the area’s deadliest on record.

Kevin Kammer, 48, of Grand Rapids, Mich., was killed and two people were hospitalized in a grizzly attack in Montana, and another death occurred in Wyoming.

Scientists report that a favorite food of many bears, nuts from whitebark pine cones, is scarce. So as grizzlies look to put on some major pounds in preparation for the long winter ahead, scientists say, they will be looking for another source of protein — meat — and running into trouble along the way.

Wildlife managers already report bears’ coming down off the mountains and into areas frequented by hunters, berry pickers and hikers.

Experts said the deaths are the most in one year in at least a century for the Yellowstone region, which also includes parts of Idaho.

The bears in both instances were killed later.

Full-grown Yellowstone bears can stand 6 feet tall and top 600 pounds. They have been known to peel off a man’s face with a single swipe of their massive, clawed paws.

Government scientists said the two fatal maulings came too early in the year for whitebark pine to have played a role. Bears typically don’t start gorging themselves on the troves of pine nuts that are stashed by squirrels until mid-August.