Montana’s grizzly bear population is the largest in the lower 48 United States. In 1923, they became a managed game species in the state, and the killing of cubs or females with cubs was prohibited in 1947. They were then listed as a threatened species under the federal Endangered Species Act in the lower 48 states in 1975.
Grizzly bears are opportunistic carnivores, meaning they’ll eat just about anything they can. This includes insects, plants, roots, tubers, grasses, berries, small rodents, fish, carrion, and more. They don’t typically go after larger mammals, but they’ll try to take down young or weekend ones when they have the chance. Of course many larger mammals are very willing to protect their young when it becomes necessary. Female elk, for example, are fiercely protective of their calves, charging anything that they perceive as a threat if it comes too close.
The instincts of grizzlies and elk came head to head in this encounter captured in Deer Lodge, Montana, as camerawoman Allana Holderman was on her way to work at Rock Creek Cattle Company. A grizzly bear can be seen chasing a young elk calve, presumably for food, when the mother elk appears from the other side of the road to chase the bear off. It’s not exactly clear how the incident ended, but given the speed at which the elk caught up to the bear it seems safe to guess that the grizzly was forced to abandon the chase.
Both elk and grizzly can be dangerous to humans. Elk should always be given plenty of space at treated with caution. In Yellowstone National Park elk are required to be given at least 25 yards of space at all times, and those guidelines should be followed outside of the park unless otherwise noted. Bears, on the other hand, should be given at least 100 yards of space at all times. Read more on bear safety below.
Montana Fish, Wildlife, & Parks Bear Encounter Guidelines:
During an encounter with a bear
- Never run away. You cannot outrun a bear. Running may trigger a bear to chase.
- Never approach the bear
- Different situations call for different responses.
- If you see a bear at a distance, the bear appears unaware of you and you can move away undetected, do so quietly when the bear is not looking toward you.
- If you cannot avoid a bear that sees you, stand your ground and watch its behavior. Move away when it disengages.
Various encounter types and what to do
If a bear is not actively engaged with you (looking away, ignoring you, running away or retreating)
- Give the bear space by backing away slowly from the bear and going in the opposite direction of the bear.
If a bear shows agitated/defensive behavior (huffing, jaws clacking, head swaying back and forth, bellowing, swatting the ground, and excessively salivating at the mouth)
- Stand your ground, prepare your bear spray, and speak in a calm manner, until the bear retreats.
If a bear charges or appears ready to charge:
- Stand your ground.
- If it charges, use your bear spray, when the bear comes within 30-60 feet.
- If the bear is going to touch you, go face down on the ground, cover your neck and head as much as possible, and deploy your bear spray in the bear’s face. If you do not have bear spray, play dead if it is a grizzly bear, fight back if it is a black bear.
If a bear follows you, or slowly, purposefully or methodically approaches you:
- Stand your ground.
- Get aggressive: wave your arms and shout vigorously.
- Get spray out and ready.
- Fight back if it makes contact.
If a bear enters or reaches into your tent:
- Use your bear spray.
- Fight back.