Hungry Bears a Worry at Yellowstone

(CBS)  This summer, we've had some tragic reminders that America's wilderness is still wild. Two people were killed in separate grizzly bear attacks outside Yellowstone National Park in the span of about a month. Some worry more attacks could come.

Of all the natural beauty in Yellowstone National Park, what many visitors come to see is the largest, most terrifying predator on the continent: the grizzly bear.

"I think it's sort of like a mythical creature," said tourist Reid Whiting. "Everyone sort of has an opinion about it."

In 1975 grizzly bears were listed as a threatened species. CBS News correspondent John Blackstone reports that since then, their numbers have grown steadily. Now some 600 grizzlies live in and around Yellowstone, but not always peacefully.

In July, campers called 9-1-1 after a bear rampaged through a campground just outside Yellowstone. The 9-1-1 caller said, "my daughter's boyfriend got bit by a bear. There's another lady down there that's screaming. I don't know if she got bit or not."

Camper Deb Freele was attacked as she slept. Pointing to the wounds on her body, Freele said, "The bear grabbed me here, and then behind, and laid open my arm from there to there."

Another camper was killed by the bear. His death came just over a month after a botanist was mauled to death by another of the region's grizzlies.

The two deaths were outside the boundaries of Yellowstone Park, but the grizzlies pay no attention to boundaries. Each bear can roam across hundreds of square miles in search of food.

This year there's a shortage of one of their favorite foods, cones from the white bark pine. As the bears search for other things to eat as they put on weight for the winter there's worry they'll start running into people.

"A mother bear will teach her cubs - come get garbage in the fall when we need to fatten up for hibernation," said Ilona Popper. Popper runs a bear awareness group in Gardiner, Mont., that's urging everyone to use bear-proof garbage cans as the first line of defense.

"When they start seeing these things around town, they give it a pass." Popper added.

At one time in Yellowstone, garbage was actually put out for the bears. Tourists would often feed bears by hand. The trouble was bears started associating humans with food and attacks in the park were frequent.

"From the 1930s through the 1960s, we averaged 48 bear maulings every year," said Yellowstone bear biologist Kerry Gunther.

Today bear attacks are rare but the deaths this year are a reminder that bear country is dangerous. Grizzlies are predators that can and will eat almost anything.

[documemts]

Hey apex predators! Listen up. There's a new food source in the woods! Instead of us doing all that walking, hunting, and looking for something to eat just wait for one of them to stop, open-up their shiny cans and present themselves to be munched on. Just grab one and bite in for a burst of flavor!

[RunsWithWolves]

I say the safety of the bears is paramount. If you keep the park open to people, then don't shoot any bears that attack people. Enter at your own risk folks.

[Janlovesbears]

When the camp ground outside of Cooke City was attacked by the mama grizzly and cubs it was reported they were starving. It does not help humans or bears that one of the main sources of bear food is currently unavailable. Also...for those who are unfamiliar with Yellowstone Park...it is a HUGE area. The park itself is 360 miles of paved road, and over 1000 miles of hiking trails. The fatal bear attacks this year happened outside the park many miles apart from one another. One happened near the Cody, WY entrance, and the other happened right outside of Cook City, MT. I would hate for people to get the wrong idea and not visit such a wondrous place thinking the park is swarming with bears ready to attack. Just follow all the bear safety rules, and if camping is not your bag rent a cabin (that's what we do...lol).

[dorothyAKMT]

Great story! The recent bear attacks were heartbreaking for both the humans and bears involved. Although evidence is inconclusive, I can't help but think that the reduction of one of the bear's major food sources had something to do with it. The archival footage was a wonderful reminder about how people's accepted behavior around bears has changed over time, and I was glad to see the plug for bear-proof garbage cans. Thanks for covering an important story about one of America's favorite parks, and possible ways to keep people and the bears safe.