A grizzly bear that emerged from a thicket and charged two backpackers in the backcountry of Denali National Park and Preserve was shot and killed by one of the two who was carrying a .45-caliber semi-automatic pistol, according to park officials.
The killing Friday is believed to be the first instance of a hiker killing a grizzly in the park's wilderness. The killing occurred in the original Mount McKinley National Park portion of the Denali, which was expanded by two-thirds in 1980.
Until February, when Congress changed the rules, it was illegal to carry a loaded firearm in that portion of Denali. While the rule change now allows hikers to carry firearms in all areas of Denali, it still is illegal to discharge them, park officials said.
Park officials did not speculate whether the killing was justified. This is believed to be the first instance of a visitor to a national park killing an animal with a firearm since the gun regulations were changed.
According to a release from the park, the two backpackers, a man and woman, were hiking in dense brush along the edge of Tattler Creek, which is at the west end of Igloo Canyon roughly 35 miles from the park headquarters.
"The man, who was in the lead, drew a .45 caliber semi-automatic pistol when they heard a noise coming from the brush. When the bear emerged from the thicket and ran toward the other hiker, he fired approximately nine rounds in its general direction. The bear stopped, turned, and walked back into the brush, where it quickly disappeared from view," said the release.
The two then headed roughly 1.5 miles back to a road, where they encountered a park employee, who called in the incident and took the two backpackers to the Toklat Road Camp. A ranger there did a short preliminary interview with them at approximately 10:00 p.m. Because of the concern that a wounded bear was in the area, four backcountry units were immediately closed, and bus drivers were instructed to not drop off day hikers in the Igloo Canyon on Saturday.
"Early Saturday morning rangers and wildlife technicians flew to Toklat via helicopter to conduct a secondary interview with the two backpackers. Afterwards they flew over Tattler Creek and all of side tributaries, very low at times, to determine if there was an active, wounded bear," the park release said. "No bears were seen during the overflight, and late in the afternoon three rangers hiked into the site. The bear was found dead in a willow thicket approximately 100 feet from the pistol casings at approximately 6:00 p.m.
"The bear’s body was transported via helicopter to a landing site on the park road and brought back to headquarters on Sunday, where park wildlife biologists are assisting with the investigation of the bear carcass. The backcountry units have been reopened."
The case is still under investigation, and the names of the backpackers are not being released at this time. Park wildlife biologists and rangers are trying to determine if there was a justification for shooting the animal.
The estimated grizzly bear population in the park north of the Alaska Range north is 300-350 animals.
Comments
Rick, I agree that I don't think you can have enough firearms training but it's impossible for someone my age to even attempt get 40+ years of that since I'm not even that old. Please don't poo-poo the training, that 30 hours was in the past 2 months and tailored to my specific training requirement, different from anything I've done in the past. They don't have any dynamic bear threat reaction courses available around here, and I live in a state where the local ranges get upset if you draw a weapon from a holster because they consider that procedure "unsafe!" That requires extensive dry fire practice at home and a lot of travel just to train, pushing myself until I get it wrong, then fixing it. That's why I took the training I did. If you don't know Tom Perroni, Google him. I agree, nothing in the US is like Fallujah and the training is not that way, either. But his experience in high-threat areas makes him more qualified to teach me how to handle low-threat areas than any instructor within 100 miles of here. Keep in mind, my mindset is that the firearm is a LAST resort. This is strictly self-defense in case spray doesn't work. I'm prepared to spray if the bluff charge gets too close, but if the bear steps out of the spray or I run out, I need to be able to react to that.
About me, 20 years of active shooting experience, going to the range with a wide variety of arms every week (even in different states) and participating in some shoots and matches. While I may not come close to other the experience of others, it doesn't mean I'm not paying a lot of my own cash to be mentally and physically prepared for a threat that will probably never happen. Under stress we all default to our level of training. The guy who shot this bear in Denali defaulted to his. I can assure you I will not react the same way, but might have if it wasn't for my training. I've read the books, am bear aware and am now many dollars poorer but better prepared for the "just in case" and that's a lot more than most CCW folks out there.
I've been backpacking since I was a boy scout; I'm now 50 years old. In all my time backpacking I can't ever remember anyone taking firearms training in preparation for a trip in the back country. Obviously you're a firearms enthusiast who feels it’s necessary to be prepared at all times to defend yourself with lethal force. It sounds like you're putting more emphasis in firearms training than how to survive, and understand how to avoid conflicts in the wilderness. Using a gun as a last resort? If you use pepper spray and for whatever reason that doesn't work, chances are you won't have time to draw your gun. Please understand, there have been many in Alaska who have gotten shots off on bears, and still had their heads ripped off.
Walking up on a moose or caribou isn't a very healthy experience either.
I know you're planning on visiting Yellowstone, do some research to see how often people are attacked by bears there. I think you'll find it seldom happens, especially if you're not hiking around with a false sense of security that a carrying a firearm can bring about.
Not to mention guns & ammo are heavy!
im glad these hikers defended themselves, but i am not happy that the bear had to die. personaly i do not care if it was a "bluff charge". the bear presented a threat to the hikers and they reacted appropriately, they would not have fired unless they feared for their lives. I just hope that these people are not battered by the animal rights activists and the anti-gun groups.
Here in Florida, when we have a nuisance black bear, the State Wildlife officials of Florida Fish & Game are supposed to come out, check out the problem, and relocate the problem bear before it or any humans get hurt.
However, the reality is that they won't come out until someone is actually injured.
So some Floridians have developed the Shoot, Shovel & Shut-up method that is so prevalent around Yosemite & Yellowstone.
Bottom line, when bears no longer feel any hunting pressure, not even Bow-Hunting, they don't have any fear of humans...and will prey upon them given half a chance. Few are willing to let their grandmothers be eaten by a bear if they can deal with the problem when Wildlife officials refuse to even come out to Navarre, FL and handle the issue. So, the inevitable happens, the bear gets killed quietly, the bullet/evidence is removed from the carcass, and it gets buried in a nice 6' grave. But if Wildlife Officials would do their dang job & relocate the bear WHEN IT IS REPORTED, that kind of thing wouldn't have to happen.
BTW, if FFW guys don't take care of the current issue in Navarre...there wil be one less black bear in the near future...those rednecks do not play at all, especially when little old ladies are involved.
Kurt:
if the man was convicted because of a biologists testimony, he might have needed better counsel. Self defense generally requires a fear of immediate harm-not proof the danger is real. How is one to know when it is real? Wait until the bear is running right in your face? Have your friend run at you from twenty feet away as you try to draw a weapon. Now imagine he is a bear, add the fear and adrenaline, and be realistic... Please don't think you can convict a homeowner by saying the homeowner had to know when the criminal was serious about an attack...
Bears may stop after an initial run. I'd give the man as much benefit of the doubt as I give the bear...
I'd be happy to not shoot at a bear when it charges you if you want it that way. Of course, your opinion may change...
This demonstrates the effects of human overpopulation and open immigration. Our wilderness areas are just that - wilderness areas and should be treated accordingly. There is NOT an unlimited amount of space and as one sage put it, "no more land is being created". In the past, humans didn't have to go so far afield to get away from it all; to find the peace of mind unique to wild areas.
With the paving over, and consequent population, of so many formerly undeveloped areas, our larger population has been forced into diminished wild landscapes. Capitalism operates much like a "Chian letter" and unfortunately, requires ever expanding markets - and it takes thousands of poor working people, and a few middle class people to support one rich CEO. As competition increases between the few to grab those fruits of human labor for themselves, the stakes go up. To show profits for the company, ever expanding markets must be found and cheaper labor must be aquired and imported. This labor used to be supplied by children working their way up through the system - i.e. working at the drive-in, picking berries, etc. As our own population grows too lazy to have their own children, foreigners must be brought in to supply the labor to keep the corporations afloat. These people need places to live, so undeveloped areas shrink, etc. And these newcomers are not raised to value the environment as we do. In the end, they will just make a theme park out of Alaska.
If you really care about Alaska, and the wildlife, have lots of children and bring them up to love the environment. Don't shirk that responsibility - for you can see the results; humans crowding into the wilderness. As far as the bear? I'm very sorry he was shot. But if it was my wife or child, and I felt they were in mortal danger, I would have fired also.
If you love the wilderness: Stop immigration! Have lots of children, and imbue them with your values! Buy from small businesses and not the large corporations whenever possible!
Maybe you would like to "shoot" the people in Arizona?
Phil,
You were a Ranger for 10 years at Denali huh? Bluff charged by Grizzly Bears multiple times? ....and you make the blind statement that they should be charged with a crime? Right of the bat huh....just like that....kill bear=crime... I don't think that fits. Doesn't seem like you were any kind of law enforcement officer, and if you really were ever bluff charged by a bear I am sure you had a firearm with you.
Oh no mister bear.....don't eat me....I know you just want to bluff charge me to see if I am a scaredy cat so I am not going to shoot you unless you bite me first, OK? hahahahaha
Don't come to Alaska????? Yeah OK. Don't bring your concealed firearm here....you can just wear it on your belt in plain sight...
This comment was edited to remove gratuitous language. -- Ed.