Article, July 26th, 2023

Just a few days ago a lady was killed by a grizzly bear on the Buttermilk Trial on the east side of Targhee Pass. Such incidents are in the extreme and are rare. Nevertheless we must be cautious and mindful that when it comes to back country presence, we humans are the invaders. We threaten hosted animals with our presence, and we have the obligation of informing them of that presence in order to avoid a confrontation and threat to their well being. We are instructed by agency personnel to carry bear spray to help ward off an attack to make noise to indicate our presence. A way that diminishes an attack by stressed wildlife is through using a claxon horn. These can be purchased at any marine supply retailer. They are inexpensive, compact ( can fit in a shirt or vest pocket), and they make an ungodly noise which carries even over the noise of a rushing stream. Most important they minimize the need to use bear spray on using which means an encounter is in progress.