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
they did use their head, and also made the best desicion, they are still living, and the bear is dead. any animal that trys to attack a human or attacks them should be shot dead no questions asked. i would have shot him also
Just run faster then your fellow hiker - you will be fine.
I believe the hiker did what he had to do at the time the bear was charging at the other hiker when he fired his weapon.and a bear can cover quite a distance in a Split Second. The bear was found a hundred feet away from the shell casings you better reread the article again. I don't believe just going out and killing bears for the fun of it but in this case I think the man had the right to do what he did and the other hiker is alive to this day to talk about it
its east to second guess someone when it's not your bones the bear is snacking on. Could a should a is easy to do.
Poor Bear, just looking for dinner.
Only an idiot would pick a fight with a bear in thick brush with a pistol, so I have to assume he was defending his partner. It worked. Some other things 'might' have worked, but this one did for sure.
. . So When was the last time you were attacked . . OR . . It was an unrealistic threat . . . huh . .
Don't Huff and Puff at me . . . That is a Threat in the bush or on the street . . . just sayin'
Interesting thread....I see this has been going on for 7 years. Just got back from Yellowstone, saw two Grizzlies....luckily none on foot on any of our day hikes. However, did read were a fellow was killed on the exact trail we took back in 2011. He and wife made classic mistake and tried to outrun the bear. MHO, do all the things advised....make noise, be aware, dont hike a dusk and dawn, listen to the ranger on areas where there has been activity, etc. If charged, bear spray in the left had, sidearm starting with a .4 in the right.....if the spray doesn't stop him, fire away. Better chance of a good hit within 10 yards anyway...otherwise just likely to make him mad.