A young male grizzly that killed a hiker’s dog, raided camps and acted aggressively toward other people and dogs in the Beartooth Mountains was killed by Wyoming Game and Fish agents.
One Sept. 26, a hiker had a “surprise encounter” with a grizzly near Becker Lake, which is north of Island Lake in the Beartooth Mountains, Game and Fish spokeswoman Breanna Ball told Cowboy State Daily on Friday.
The hiker wasn’t hurt, but the hiker’s dog was killed.
Further investigation by Game and Fish revealed that “the sub-adult male bear had disturbed camps in the area and acted aggressively to several other hikers with dogs and people on horseback,” Ball said.
The area was temporarily closed and the bear was killed, according to Game and Fish. There have been no other reports of grizzly trouble there.
Should Fido Go Into Grizzly Country?
The incident raises the question of whether it’s a good idea to take dogs into grizzly country.
“Dogs can be useful to alert people of a bear’s presence, but owners must know how their dog will react and be able to control them in an encounter,” Ball said.
In some instances, dogs can agitate grizzlies and even increase the chances of their owners getting mauled, bear experts previously told Cowboy State Daily.
On the other hand, specially trained dogs of certain breeds can be great bear deterrents.
Trained Karelian bear dogs have a reputation for warding off grizzlies.
A rancher in remote northern Montana previously told Cowboy State Daily that her huge Anatolian shepherd dogs have chased grizzlies and wolves off her property.
Mark Heinz can be reached at mark@cowboystatedaily.com.
