You Still Here

[{"type":"text","text":"First day at the gym....."}]

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Cowboy State Daily is Wyoming’s largest newspaper with Wyoming’s most experienced journalists. 

<title>You Still Here? Friday, June 14, 2024 | Cowboy State Daily</title>

First day at the gym.....

You Still Here? Friday, June 14, 2024

Heinz mark

Mark Heinz

Fishing

Upper Sunshine Reservoir near Meeteetse is popular with local anglers, particularly for ice fishing, but the reservoir is being drained so fishing there won't be an option for two years.

The Greybull Valley Irrigation District is draining the reservoir “to perform critical irrigation infrastructure repairs,” according to the Wyoming Game and Fish Department.

Upper Sunshine is expected to be completely drained by Sept. 1, so engineers can inspect infrastructure and determine what repairs are needed.

It will start refilling Oct. 1 but will be drained again in 2027 for the repair work. Repairs are scheduled for completion by April 2028.

“Game and Fish will not stock the small pool that will form during the 2026-2027 period, as it will be drained again in the fall of 2027. Stocking to rebuild the fishery will resume in the fall of 2028, once repairs are completed and water levels stabilize,” according to the agency.

Dalton Epperson of Cody and his friend Tyler Geving of Meeteetse have fished at Upper and Lower Sunshine reservoirs for years.

Upper Sunshine is primarily for ice fishing, they said.

“It’s usually the first thing that’s frozen” in the area, Epperson said.

Upper Sunshine doesn’t have much fish variety, he added.

“It’s all suckers and cutthroats,” he said.

Meat from the suckers makes good lake trout bait, he said.

Because this past winter was so dry, Upper Sunshine Reservoir wasn’t in the best shape anyway, Geving said.

“It was pretty low during ice fishing season,” he said.

Even so, with plentiful fish and easy access, it’s remained popular, Geving said.

“Upper Sunshine is a good starter lake. It’s a good place to take somebody and teach them ice fishing because you can catch 14- and 15-inch cutthroat all day long,” he said.

The reservoirs are the site of an ice fishing derby during the first week of February.

Epperson said Upper and Lower Sunshine are go-too fishing spots for Park County locals because they're about 40 minutes from Cody.

And from Meeteetse, “locals can be there in about 10 minutes and have their boats on the water,” he added.

[{"type":"text","marks":[{"type":"textStyle"},{"type":"bold"}],"text":"Long-Term Goals"}]

While the drainages and construction will tank fishing at Upper Sunshine Reservoir in the short term, the repair work should have lasting benefits for the fishery, according to Game and Fish.

“Recent sampling has indicated reduced growth rates in stocked Yellowstone cutthroat trout, likely due to an overabundance of longnose suckers competing for resources, and the drawdown will significantly reduce the sucker population,” Cody regional fisheries biologist Jason Burckhardt said in a statement from the agency.

Refilling the reservoir will release “a surplus of nutrients” from plants and soil, he added.

That will boost plankton production, so trout should grow faster and bigger, Burkhardt said.

While Upper Sunshine Reservoir is down, anglers can turn their attention to Lower Sunshine Reservoir and other waters in the region.

Some of those include Boysen Reservoir south of Thermopolis, Buffalo Bill Reservoir west of Cody, and Meadowlark Lake in the Bighorn Mountains.

[{"type":"text","marks":[{"type":"textStyle"},{"type":"bold"}],"text":"Let’s Go Splake Fishing"}]

Epperson and Geving said draining Upper Sunshine Reservoir will put a pinch on their local angling opportunities. But they understand the work has to be done, and there’s no shortage of other places to fish.

“I know they’ve got to upgrade stuff and keep things fixed, to keep the reservoirs running right,” Geving said. “And Lower Sunshine is more fun to fish because it’s got lake trout and splake, and bigger fish.” 

Splake are a sterile hybrid species popular among Wyoming anglers. They’re produced in Game and Fish hatcheries by crossing male brook trout with female lake trout.

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<title>Upper Sunshine Reservoir Near Meeteetse Drained, No More Fishing For Two years | Cowboy State Daily</title>

Upper Sunshine Reservoir near Meeteetse is popular with local anglers, particularly for ice fishing, but the reservoir is being drained, so there won’t be any fishing there for two years. It’s expected to be completely drained by Sept. 1.

Upper Sunshine Reservoir Near Meeteetse Drained, No More Fishing For Two years

Employee kate meadows cropped

Kate Meadows

Politics

President Donald Trump officially announced Thursday that he will attend the July 3 fireworks celebration at Mount Rushmore, a centerpiece event commemorating America's 250th birthday.

The announcement was made on the Freedom 250 website and confirmed in a statement released by South Dakota Gov. Larry Rhoden.

"President Trump will lead the nation in a historic celebration beneath one of America's most iconic landmarks," Freedom 250 Chairman Keith Krach said Thursday.

Rhoden had personally invited Trump to the celebration, said Josie Harms, spokesperson for the governor.

"It is my honor to welcome President Trump to the great state of South Dakota — the freest state in a nation founded on the principles of freedom," Rhoden said in a news release published Thursday. "Together, we will throw the biggest birthday party ever for our nation and celebrate America's legacy of freedom, liberty and justice for all."

The event marks the return of fireworks over Mount Rushmore for the first time in six years.

[{"type":"text","text":"Tourism Way Up"}]

 that Keystone, the community closest to the memorial, has already experienced a surge in tourism ahead of the celebration, with visitor numbers up 124% compared with the same period last year and daily visitation climbing 32%.

"We've definitely seen a very large uptick in visitors," said Emma Groninger, tourism director for the Keystone Visitors Center. "Everyone's excited."

Attendance at the July 3 event is limited to the 4,800 people selected through a lottery that closed April 12. Nearly 103,000 ticket requests were submitted for the limited number of seats.

[{"type":"text","text":"Closures and Security"}]

The memorial grounds will be closed to the general public during the celebration, and temporary road closures near Mount Rushmore will be in effect from 11 p.m. July 2 through 11 p.m. July 3 to accommodate security operations, according to South Dakota tourism officials.

Officials have not released details about additional security measures associated with Trump's visit. Brendyn Medina, public information officer for the Rapid City Police Department, referred questions to the U.S. Secret Service. Efforts by Cowboy State Daily to reach Mount Rushmore officials Thursday were unsuccessful. No one answered a call, and the voice mailbox was full.

[{"type":"text","text":"Lay of the Land"}]

According to Freedom 250 organizers, the celebration will feature military bands, ceremonial presentations, precision drill demonstrations, aviation flyovers and a salute to all six branches of the Armed Forces.

Rhoden and Interior Secretary Doug Burgum are scheduled to welcome Trump before he delivers what organizers describe as a "historic address" commemorating the nation's semi-quincentennial and looking ahead to "America's next chapter."

Thirty pyrotechnicians and high-line operators will install fireworks and lighting systems at designated locations around the memorial, according to Katlyn Svendsen, senior director of global public relations and content services for Travel South Dakota.

The state contracted with California-based Pyro Spectaculars — the same company that produced Mount Rushmore's 2020 fireworks display attended by Trump — to stage this year's show, with a price tag of $700,000. The agreement between the company and the South Dakota Department of Tourism includes lighting elements that can be used if environmental conditions prevent fireworks from being launched.

[{"type":"text","text":"First Time For Fireworks Since 2020"}]

Trump last visited Mount Rushmore in July 2020 after then-Gov. Kristi Noem successfully pushed to reinstate fireworks at the memorial after an 11-year hiatus.

Trump's 2020 visit to Mount Rushmore was met with protests from Native Americans who regard the Black Hills as sacred and object to the monument's location on land the Lakota say was unlawfully taken after being guaranteed to them under an 1868 treaty. Demonstrators blocked a highway leading to the memorial, resulting in a standoff with law enforcement and dozens of arrests.

The president's return to South Dakota could provide a political boost for Rhoden, who is campaigning in a July 28 Republican runoff election for governor against Aberdeen businessman Toby Doeden after neither candidate secured the 35% needed to win outright in the June 2 primary.

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<title>It’s Official: Trump Will Attend July 3 Fireworks Celebration At Mount Rushmore | Cowboy State Daily</title>

President Trump announced Thursday he will attend the July 3 fireworks celebration at Mount Rushmore, a centerpiece event commemorating America's 250th. The event also marks the return of fireworks over Mount Rushmore for the first time in six years.

It’s Official: Trump Will Attend July 3 Fireworks Celebration At Mount Rushmore

Kolby fedore

Kolby Fedore

Crime & Courts

A Texas man is accused of exposing his erect penis and "wiggling his hips" in the parking lot of a busy Mexican restaurant in Jackson on Tuesday evening before driving away intoxicated.

The alleged incident involving Anthony Joseph Durkas happened at 7:42 p.m. outside El Abuelito Restaurant, a popular family eatery about a five-minute walk west of Jackson Town Square.

A caller told dispatch an intoxicated man pulled down his pants, exposed his genitals and was "swinging it around" in the parking lot before climbing into a white Chevrolet Silverado with Texas license plates.

The public indecency allegation, however, stems largely from what police say happened before officers ever arrived, documented in a probable-cause affidavit filed Wednesday by Sgt. Justin Lancaster of the Jackson Police Department. 

A woman who witnessed the encounter showed Lancaster cellphone video she recorded from the parking lot before providing it to investigators for review. 

The video appeared to show Durkas "passionately kissing a woman" before she reached toward his crotch. 

Lancaster notes the video showed Durkas "appeared to undo his pants facing the female." 

Then, he wrote, Durkas "turned to the side which showed his penis was erect and exposed to the general public."

According to the affidavit, Durkas then began "wiggling his hips, which caused his erect penis to move in a circular motion."

Lancaster wrote the incident occurred during the dinner rush with passing motorists and at least one witness nearby.

[{"type":"text","marks":[{"type":"bold"}],"text":"DUI Arrest"}]

As officers arrived, Lancaster reported seeing the pickup backing out of a parking space.

When the officer approached the driver's window, he said he immediately smelled a strong odor of alcohol along with the faint smell of marijuana coming from inside the truck.

Lancaster wrote that Durkas had bloodshot, watery eyes, slurred speech, and appeared unsteady on his feet after getting out of the vehicle.

Lancaster also said Durkas was "slow to follow commands and/or was unable" to comply with instructions.

He noted that Durkas did not respond to a request to perform standardized field-sobriety tests.

Durkas was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence and taken to jail. His pickup was impounded because, according to Lancaster, it was partially blocking the parking lot.

During an inventory search of the truck, officers found a clear plastic bag labeled "MAC GALACTIC" containing suspected psilocybin mushrooms.

Inside a camper shell, officers also reported finding what appeared to be burned and unburned marijuana in a pipe along with a grinder.

[{"type":"text","marks":[{"type":"bold"}],"text":"Court Proceedings"}]

Durkas appeared Wednesday in Teton County Circuit Court, where he was arraigned on one count each of public indecency and driving under the influence, along with two misdemeanor counts of possessing controlled substances.

If convicted on all four counts and ordered to serve the maximum penalties consecutively, he could face up to 3½ years in jail and $4,500 in fines.

Teton County Circuit Court Judge Erin E. Weisman set a bond at $3,000 cash or surety and scheduled a jury trial for Oct. 27, though the matter could be resolved through a plea agreement or another disposition.

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<title>Texas Man Accused Of Flashing Penis Outside Busy Jackson Mexican Restaurant | Cowboy State Daily</title>

A Texas man is accused of exposing his penis and "swinging it around" in the parking lot of a busy Mexican restaurant in Jackson on Tuesday evening before driving away intoxicated. If convicted on all four counts he could face up to 3½ years in jail.

Texas Man Accused Of Flashing Penis Outside Busy Jackson Mexican Restaurant

Mac Watson

Daily Video News

It’s time to take a look at what’s happening around Wyoming for Thursday, June 25th.  I’m Mac Watson

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Wyoming congressional candidate Reid Rasner, who works as a financial advisor, was “discharged” from his broker clearinghouse company in late April. Cowboy State Daily’s Clair McFarland reports the dismissal was based on allegations that Rasner “engaged in unapproved outside business activity,” federal filings say.

“Rasner had been with LPL Financial for like nine years, and he, he did run for Senate in 2024 not not successfully against Barrasso, and then in 2025 was being very public about a hope to purchase TikTok, that didn't pan out, but then this year he's been running for US House, the seat that Representative Hageman is vacating.  So, the LPL discharged him in late April, that would have been several months after he, that would have been months after he declared for office, a few weeks after his campaign finance reports came out, and several months after the TikTok deal kind of fizzled.”

The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) profile of Rasner says he was registered previously as a broker “and is currently registered as an investment advisor.” The profile also states that he’s held state registrations in New York and Wyoming.

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An armed female suspect surrendered to law enforcement after a multi-hour standoff on Cody's south side Wednesday afternoon. Cowboy State Daily’s Andrew Rossi reports that the woman was arrested and charged with criminal trespass, property destruction, and interference with a police officer.

“So, the Cody Police Department responded to a call of an unauthorized entry in an unoccupied Cody home around noon on Wednesday, and they found a female suspect who barricaded herself inside that home with a firearm. The standoff lasted around five hours, and then the suspect was arrested. The suspect surrendered and was arrested without incidents, and there were no reported injuries. 41-year-old Dawn Blaycock has been charged with multiple offenses.”

Blaylock is currently being held in the Park County Detention Center.

A Sheridan rancher says an “asinine, stupid” outhouse crackdown is pushing Amish families out of the Hulett area. Cowboy State Daily’s Kate Meadows reports that rancher Pepper Fipps says landowners were threatened with fines of up to $30,000 per day if they failed to comply with outhouse regulations.

“This controversy goes back to 2024 when a wastewater specialist with Crook County discovered what he considered to be an illegal outhouse on an Amish owned property, Pepper Thips is calling it government overreach and saying they're after money, and it's all about making a buck. County commissioners are saying it's about environmental quality and making sure that our groundwater is not polluted by illegally made out houses that have no, you know, no protections from the wider world, so to speak.”

Fipps tells Cowboy State Daily that about 40 Amish families live in the Hulett area. Founded in 2011, the Hulett Amish settlement is one of five in Wyoming.

A Johnson County judge ruled that anything Wyoming state Rep. Bill Allemand said while handcuffed for 12 minutes during a DUI traffic stop can’t be used as direct evidence against him. Cowboy State Daily’s Clair McFarland reports that’s because his arresting deputy failed to give Allemand his Miranda rights.

“He was not free to leave, he was handcuffed for 12 minutes. Originally, it was for a good idea, they saw a gun on the seat, they were worried about officer safety, they detained him so they could take care of the gun, but he stayed handcuffed, and the deputy was asking him questions, and so the judge was like, look, you can't, you can't keep for your main case any potentially incriminating stuff that he said while you're questioning him while he was in custody and hadn't been warned against incriminating himself. It benefits Aleman by whittling the main evidence that the state can bring against him.”

Allemand, a Republican state representative of the Mills area, 

, on suspicion of driving under the influence of alcohol in Johnson County – one day after a Buffalo traffic stop just off Interstate 25.

I’ll have more news from Cowboy State Daily right after this.

Cowboy State Daily News continues now….

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Five young Arapaho braves snuck off from Fort Robinson 150 years ago this week and fought the 7th Cavalry at Little Bighorn, where General Custer met his demise. Cowboy State Daily’s Jackie Dorothy reports that two of the braves later told their story to actor and adopted member of the Arapaho tribe, Tim McCoy.

“These five Arapaho men were not supposed to be where they were, and they were actually captured by the Sioux, and one thing led to another, and next thing you know, the Arapahoes, these five young men are part of the battle against Custer. The two bucks, as they refer to themselves, actually saw Custer during this battle. Left Hand saw him standing and shooting into the Indians with his pistols. Waterman, when he saw Custer, Custer was on all fours on the ground, bleeding out of his mouth with a wound in his side, and Waterman must have been impacted by it, because what he said he saw was Custer watching the Indians – silent, just watching them. This battle took place 150 years ago today, and there were no prisoners taken, because the philosophy of the Indians was that  you had two choices: you either fight or you die. There was no such thing as surrender.”

They have been dubbed by historians as the Arapaho Five, warriors who found themselves fighting against General Custer 150 years ago. Their names were Left Hand, Yellow Eagle, Yellow Fly, Water Man, and Sage.

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Colorado wildlife agents are trying to determine why a black bear attacked a woman on a hiking trail in Denver and then followed her for 30 minutes despite her shouting and throwing rocks at it. Outdoors Reporter Mark Heinz reports that the woman who took video of the encounter said it was “circling her.”

“At one point, a couple other hikers joined her because they heard the ruckus, and also started yelling at the bear, and it still wouldn't leave. Eventually the bear wandered off down another leg of the trail, and apparently started following other hikers. So I reached out to Colorado Parks and Wildlife, and they said they don't think that this would qualify as what they would call a predatory incident with the bear.”

The consensus among bear biologists is that while grizzlies are more likely to attack humans, black bears are more likely to attack in a purely predatory manner.

A Casper teen accused of attacking his mother led police to a hidden cache of stolen firearms and credit cards tucked behind a secret wall in his bedroom. Cowboy State Daily’s Kolby Fedore reports that court documents paint a picture of a family dispute that escalated into a foot chase through Casper neighborhoods .

“They went into his room, where they found about four stolen pistols. There is a fifth pistol they found that they also believe was stolen, but that's not confirmed yet. So, he is facing at least four felonies for these stolen guns. His mother said that earlier she had seen a credit card skimmer or a scanner. They did not find it that day, however, they did find several credit cards, so there may be further charges in the future. I spoke to the Natrona County Prosecutor, Dan Itson, and he said this 17-year old will be charged as an adult.”

Honor Jason Wickert, 17, appeared Tuesday afternoon in Natrona County Circuit Court, where he was formally charged with four felonies and several misdemeanors, including interference, domestic battery, carrying a concealed weapon, and being a minor in possession of tobacco products. 

The owner of a Wyoming sanitation company said it's not worth it to jump in a vault toilet to retrieve sunglasses like a man in California did last week. Cowboy State Daily’s Andrew Rossi reports that Adam Fink, owner of Laird Sanitation says nothing besides a family heirloom is worth diving into a vault toilet. 

“Vault toilets can be anywhere from three to 10 feet deep, and a lot of them, they don't use water, but they might be filled with the chemicals that you find in Port-a-johns, so if you go in there, you might be floating once you're in there, because it might be so deep you won't be able to touch the ground.”

The incident occurred June 20th at Camp Edison on the Sierra National Forest, northeast of Fresno and according to media reports, the unidentified man trying to recover his sunglasses was stuck inside for about 15 minutes before being rescued.

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And that’s today’s news. Get your free digital subscription to Wyoming's only statewide newspaper by hitting the Daily Newsletter button on 

 - and you can watch this newscast every day by clicking Subscribe on our 

 channel, or listen to us on your favorite podcast app.  Thanks for watching - I’m Mac Watson, for Cowboy State Daily.

News image 6 25 26

<title>Cowboy State Daily Video Newscast: Thursday, June 25, 2026 | Cowboy State Daily</title>

Thursday's headlines include:
* Armed Standoff In Cody
* Reid Rasner Fired By Company
* It’s Not A Good Idea To Jump In Outhouse

Cowboy State Daily Video Newscast: Thursday, June 25, 2026

Headshot of Cowboy State Daily's general assignment reporter, Clair McFarland.

Clair McFarland

Courts

The things Wyoming state Rep. Bill Allemand said while handcuffed for 12 minutes during a 

 can’t be used as direct evidence against him in a trial slated for September, because his arresting deputy failed to give him his Miranda rights, a Johnson County court magistrate has ruled. 

 on suspicion of driving under the influence of alcohol in Johnson County – one day after a Buffalo traffic stop just off Interstate 25.

When Johnson County Deputy Caleb Campbell stopped Allemand at around midday Dec. 28, Campbell handcuffed Allemand without first giving the lawmaker his Miranda warnings against incriminating himself. 

That was a fair move, because Allemand had a gun on his front truck seat and Campbell had concerns about officer safety, Buffalo Circuit Court Magistrate Jeremy Kisling ruled in a Friday order. 

But Allemand remained handcuffed for 12 minutes – including a length of time after Campbell had secured the gun and after Campbell’s secondary “cover” deputy arrived. And Campbell kept asking Allemand questions, and also urged Allemand to be honest with him, according to court documents and body-camera video shown in court. 

This led to a number of potentially incriminating statements while Allemand was confined, but not warned the order says. 

Because Allemand was being interrogated while in custody without receiving his Miranda warnings, 

 he said during that 12-minute span can’t be part of the Johnson County Attorney’s Office’s main case against him at his Sept. 16 trial in Buffalo Circuit Court, Kisling ruled. 

“Even in consideration of the totality of the circumstances, the court can think of no scenario where a reasonable person would not consider themselves in police custody after being placed in handcuffs,” Kisling wrote. “Deputy Campbell violated the defendant’s constitutional rights by questioning him while he was handcuffed without reading Miranda advisements.” 

But Allemand wasn’t coerced, threatened, or tricked into saying the many things he said or indicated while handcuffed. In the body camera footage, for example, Allemand said he’d had two beers, and he knew drinking and driving is “highly illegal” but drinking while driving down the interstate helps with his “anxieties." 

So since Allemand's statements were voluntary, the case prosecutor can still bring those statements up for “impeachment,” or to fact-check testimony at trial, Kisling ruled. 

The prosecutor can also bring direct evidence of what Allemand said after Campbell removed his handcuffs and tried getting him to perform field-sobriety tests. For example, Allemand voiced confusion about whether his gun was on his body, said “nonsensical” things and repeatedly asked questions that had already been answered, notes Kisling’s order. 

Kisling also said the evidence shows Allemand’s speech was slurred, and he swayed and stumbled during the traffic stop. 

Allemand reportedly failed his field-sobriety tests and was arrested and taken to jail.  

The evidentiary affidavit, body and dash camera video, and court testimony together indicate that a blue truck was the subject of a Report Every Drunk Driving Incident (REDDI) call. A male in his 60s with white hair was driving the truck, the REDDI caller told dispatch at the time, according to court documents. The caller initially described the truck as a blue Dodge with a bed topper, but later voiced uncertainty as to whether it was a Dodge, the order recounts. 

Campbell arrived on that section of interstate to find the REDDI caller’s vehicle driving near a blue Toyota Tacoma with a bed topper. The Tacoma left the interstate in the Buffalo area, stopped at a stop sign, rolled toward the intersection and braked abruptly to avoid colliding with a red truck, Campbell testified in court in March. 

Dash camera footage, though grainy, corroborates this partially by showing a red truck pass in front of Allemand’s truck. 

Allemand parked the blue truck at the Miller’s Travel Center gas station. 

Campbell activated his lights, knocked at Allemand’s window, and soon put him in handcuffs because Allemand had a gun on his front truck seat, according to the case evidence. That’s reportedly why Campbell handcuffed him. 

[{"type":"text","text":"‘Justified Under All Circumstances’"}]

Allemand’s attorney Mike Vang had brought an argument with regard to this evidence that Campbell didn’t have reasonable suspicion to justify the initial traffic stop or its extension. 

The Wyoming Constitution’s Article 1, Section 4, requires that searches and seizures be reasonable under all the circumstances. For traffic stops, Wyoming courts are to review that reasonability question under “all facts and circumstances,” Kisling’s order says. 

[{"type":"text","text":"Vang argued at a March 25 hearing that Campbell failed that test. "}]

[{"type":"text","text":"Kisling disagrees. "}]

“The initial stop was justified under all circumstances,” the magistrate wrote. The REDDI report and matching circumstances in which Campbell found the REDDI caller and Allemand lent reasonable suspicion, but Campbell also had probable cause of a traffic violation with Allemand’s alleged failure to yield the right of way to the red truck at the intersection. 

Campbell was also justified in extending the stop because he had evidence that a DUI had happened, Kisling added. 

“The video speaks for itself in establishing there was probable cause to believe the defendant was under the influence of alcohol while operating a motor vehicle,” the magistrate wrote

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<title>Judge Rules Rep. Allemand Wasn’t Read Miranda Rights When Stopped For DUI | Cowboy State Daily</title>

A Johnson County judge ruled that anything Wyoming state Rep. Bill Allemand said while handcuffed for 12 minutes during a DUI traffic stop can’t be used as direct evidence against him, because his arresting deputy failed to give him his Miranda rights.

Judge Rules Rep. Allemand Wasn’t Read Miranda Rights When Stopped For DUI

Wildlife

Colorado Parks and Wildlife is trying to determine why a black bear attacked a woman Sunday on a popular hiking trail, and then followed her for 30 minutes despite her shouting and throwing rocks at it.

“We don’t know for sure, because we haven’t found the bear,” Kara Van Hoose, CPW's northeast region spokeswoman, told Cowboy State Daily on Wednesday.

The bear was thought to be a “yearling, or young adult,” she added.

Predatory attacks, in which a bear is deliberately stalking a person as prey, are extremely rare in both black bears and grizzlies.

Most bear attacks are defensive or territorial.

While the bear’s behavior was alarming, CPW doesn’t think it was predatory, Van Hoose said.

“It makes us think more likely a food-conditioned bear, not a predatory black bear,” she said.

[{"type":"text","marks":[{"type":"textStyle"},{"type":"bold"}],"text":"Bear Wouldn’t Give Up"}]

The woman, who CPW did not identify, told wildlife agents that she was attacked from behind and suffered scratches on one leg at about 5:20 p.m.

She was on the Enchanted Forest trail in the 700-acre Apex Park near Golden in Jefferson County. CPW shut down the park after the reported attack.

The woman told investigators the bear continued to follow her despite her repeated attempts to intimidate and haze it by making herself look big, shouting, and throwing rocks and sticks.

Toward the end of the encounter, the woman was joined by two hikers who responded to her calls for help. Even with all three people shouting at it, the bear was undeterred, CPW reported.

Eventually, the bear turned down another trail, where it reportedly started following other hikers, according to CPW.

The woman is an avid hiker who has had previous bear encounters, and acted appropriately by trying to intimidate and haze the bear, Van Hoose said.

The woman gave CPW a short cellphone video she took during the encounter, which helped the agency identify the bear as relatively small and probably young, Van Hoose said.

CPW isn’t at liberty to share the video with Cowboy State Daily, she said.  

 reported the woman reached out and shared the video and details of the encounter but declined to be named in their report.

The woman told Denver 7 the bear was “circling” her.

[{"type":"text","marks":[{"type":"textStyle"},{"type":"bold"}],"text":"Problems Human-Caused"}]

British Columbia bear researcher Lana Ciarniello told Cowboy State Daily she couldn’t comment on the specifics of the Colorado attack, but affirmed that predatory behavior is extremely rare in both black bears and grizzlies.

Colorado wildlife agents are trying to determine why a black bear attacked a woman on a hiking trail in Denver and then followed her for 30 minutes despite her shouting and throwing rocks at it. The woman who took video of the encounter said it was "circling her."

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