Fishing where grizzlies and mountain lions live requires a heightened level of vigilance. It seems as if there have been more reports of mountain lion attacks the past year or two than in recent memory. Not long ago, a runner in Colorado was attacked by a young mountain lion while trail running west of Fort Collins. And just this spring a boy in Montana turned back a charging grizzly with bear spray. In this episode, we recount a few hair-raising stories of encounters while fishing where grizzlies and mountain lions live. And also offer up a few practical ways to ensure your safety when out and about in the great outdoors.
LISTEN NOW TO FISHING WHERE GRIZZLIES AND MOUNTAIN LIONS LIVE
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Hey guys! I love the podcast and look forward to it every week.
I live in Missoula, bears aren’t uncommon in the areas surrounding, so I’ve always got a can on me when I’m out. When you two were talking about practicing with bear spray, I just wanted to let you know that you can find canisters of “practice bear spray”. Essentially, it’s the size and weight if a bear spray can, pressurized the same and fires the same, just without all the caustic chemicals. They’re only $14-$20 depending on the brand, and it’s totally worth it. The first time you find out what it feels like to spray it, shouldn’t be when a bear is, dare I say, baring down on you.
I usually get my bear spray at Ace Hardware, and they always have the practice cans in stock too.
Thanks, Quincy, for the tip on practice canisters of bear spray. I’ll look for some the next time I’m in Bozeman. I hadn’t thought about checking at an Ace Hardware, but that makes sense. I fished Rock Creek a couple of times, but I know there’s other great places to fish around Missoula. Hope you do well this season!
The last time I fished Rock Creek–alone–I was napping in my pickup and was awakened by a forest service employ tacking up a “Beware of Bear” sign. I asked him about it and he told me of a fresh griz kill just up stream from me.
My stream fishing stopped then and I drove on up to the George Town lake my next two days in Montana!
This episode did not mention the occasional attack by an aggressive black bear. The strategy here is like the mountain lion fight. DO NOT play dead, but fight back at all times. While the griz may only be protecting young, and leave after a bit when you play dead, the black is after a meal and not leave!
For one of my experiences with Grizzlies in the Greater Yellowstone ecosystem… just google “Soda Butte Grizzly”.
Wow! Stunning. We’re so glad you survived! Here is one link for our readers to access the story:
http://fwp.mt.gov/mtoutdoors/HTML/articles/2012/Grizzlyattack.htm