Backpacker shoots and kills grizzly bear in Denali National Park

A backpacker shot and killed a grizzly bear in Denali National Park and Preserve on Friday after the animal charged toward his hiking companion. This is the first shooting incident since a change in federal law that allows firearms to be carried in many national parks and wildlife refuges went into effect in February.

This is also the first known shooting of a grizzly bear in the wilderness portion of the park by a visitor.

According to park spokeswoman Kris Fister, the backpackers were hiking in an area about 35 miles from park headquarters when they heard noise in nearby brush. The male hiker drew a .45-caliber pistol he was carrying, and when the bear emerged and charged toward his female hiking companion, he fired about nine rounds toward the grizzly.

The bear returned to the brush, at which point the hikers headed back the way they came, until meeting a park employee and reporting the incident.

Since it was unclear if the animal was killed or only wounded, the area was immediately closed to other hikers. The bear's carcass was discovered Saturday evening by park rangers near where the shooting took place.

The names of the hikers have not been released, pending investigation into the justification of the shooting. According to the press release issued by Fister, it is legal to carry a firearm in the original Mt. McKinley portion of the park where the incident occurred, but it is not legal to discharge it.

-- Kelly Burgess

Photo: A grizzly in Denali National Park and Preserve. Credit: Kent Miller

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Comments

[Marcia Twane]

@Russel Timmons Shackleford said:

"You are right, we are not God. But since you are bringing him into the fold, he is the one who put animals here for our use. God reigns over the people, the people have dominion over the animal kingdom."

This is inane and absurd (and I personally find it extremely offensive).

Please remember humankind has not woven the web of life. We are but one thread within it. Whatever we do to the web, we do to ourselves. All things are bound together. All things connect.

[yp]

It is legal to possess the firearm in the Park but not legal to discharge it? I guess that is irrelevant at this point since I'd rather worry about the legality of discharging it than being lunch for the bear, wouldn't you?

[Bike LA]

I'm pretty sure that the law about firing guns in the National Park is just to stop me from shooting my empty beer cans on hiking trails.

[waypasthadenough]

The best solution to our problems is to put up a 14' high fence with the concertina wire on top facing inwards around all the large metro areas. Then stock the areas with hungry wolves, mountain lion, bear, coyotes, wolverines and whatever other North American carnivores the "Liberal"(communist) freaks love to whine about.

Those smart enough to carry weapons, openly disobeying any laws the "Liberal" garbage have written and voted for, will survive. They can even help out the carnivores by wounding a few "Liberal" freaks so the poor animals won't have to run as fast to catch them.

They could also open doors to "Liberal"(communist) establishments, like this commie rag, to allow the hungry carnivores to access their food.

After all the "Liberal" citiots are dead, we can return this nation to Liberty as it should be, and the animals to the wild areas, where they should be. All can then live happily ever after in a place where animals have a healthy fear of humans and humans respect each others’ most basic right, the right to fight back, especially against the evil garbage that would enslave them further.

[cvw fla]

Bear spray eh? How long does it take for a charging bear to tackle you to the ground eliminating your ability to do anything but become fodder. And of these precious few seconds, how many should you use sizing up the intent of the bear before you finally pull the trigger while shaking in your boots and how many pulls can you get off before it reaches you since a wounded bear is more dangerous and can easily kill you until its dead. 9 shots with a .45 before it ran off wounded? What if it didnt run off and continued its charge and it took 12 shots to finally stop the bear? You watch police videos of people that arent bothered by pepper spray enough to stop their attack or resistance. Hows that junk going to stop a bear thats bent on ripping off your limbs? Has anyone visited that bear trainers grave that had this attitude of bears not being dangerous? If you want to take risks with your life of playing psychological games with bears that is fine. For the rest of us sane people who choose to defend ourselves with deadly force, dont try to stop us, it is our right even if the laws are changed.
The idea that an animal recognizes boundaries between its territory and human territory is insane. They may choose to avoid humans but if encountered they will defend themselves with deadly force and we need to be prepared to do the same if we so choose. I am by no means an avid hunter and enjoy nature but if I am threatened by something I will defend myself to whatever extreme is available to me at the moment. If I choose to enter a public area or anywhere that I think I could be in danger you can bet that I will be prepared to survive by any means possible. Anything else is equal to going canoeing without a paddle. You might be able to do it but you are taking some big risks and unless you are just trying to see if you can go canoeing without a paddle then you should bring a paddle.

A life for a life eh? Does that mean that you are a supporter of the death penalty and ranchers or fishermen should be charged accordingly? Guess your house is overrun with roaches and rats and ants, right? And can we decide about whos territory it is that these vermin inhabit? What about parasites?

Finally for those pepper spray enthusiasts, bring your spray to Florida, we have bears, alligators, cougars and now pythons and lets see how long you survive here on a hike through the everglades or any other national park here for that matter. Yes you might survive but you are giving your control over to whatever animal you startle and how hungry it is (none of these animals are vegans).

[Tenacious1]

"According to the press release issued by Fister, it is legal to carry a firearm in the original Mt. McKinley portion of the park where the incident occurred, but it is not legal to discharge it."

California huh? They always seem to end up with half laws. I suppose they should have taped a spear to the handgun and stabbed the wild animal in self defense or else face stiff penalties?

And don't tell me about the innocent bear. I have been charged by a deer and that will scare bowels out of you. A bear? I'm not thinking very long about what it might be thinking if it is charging at me.

[Russel Timmons Shackleford]

In re: Mary Twane
"No, a life equals a life. Human or bear or otherwise. We are not god."

You are right, we are not God. But since you are bringing him into the fold, he is the one who put animals here for our use. God reigns over the people, the people have dominion over the animal kingdom.

"Please keep in mind we are invading their habitat and as such should be considered the interlopers."

So does my habitat end where the pavement ends? Is that the deal? Humans roamed the earth for thousands of years, it is only recently that man has chosen to confine himself to the city and withdraw from the forrest. So forgive me if I believe that humans can and should enjoy all that nature has to offer, explore, run, jump, climb and swim. Forgive those of us who expect to be alive at the end of the day.

[SullyP]

Heeere we go! I was elated to hear we finally had the right to carry in parks, but I fear what would commonly be bear spottings will turn into shootings. Time will tell whether this guy was justified or part of the very miniscule percentage of people who carry a sidearm irresponsibly. I'm skeptical though.

[Richard]

"According to the press release issued by Fister, it is legal to carry a firearm in the original Mt. McKinley portion of the park where the incident occurred, but it is not legal to discharge it."

Doesn't anyone besides Len find this contradictory law strange? It's akin to "you can carry a bottle of water during the race but are not allowed to drink it..."

[Human Bean]

Glad the bear got offed.

[HODGE]

IF IT IS LEGAL TO CARRY IT???I BELIEVE IF THEIR LIVES WERE IN DANGER HE HAD EVERY RITE TO DO WHAT HE DID

[Robert Jennings]

Some people carry guns into parks hoping a bear or some other large carnivore will attack them. I know people who carry guns into bad neighborhoods hoping some crazed fool will give them the opportunity to kill someone. Personally, I wouldn't go into bear country with anything less than a .44 mag or a 50, and of course you should always make noise and carry spray. I wonder at what round did the bear change his mind? Did it really take all 9 rounds? If the guy had a .44 mag and his gal had bear spray it might not have had to be fatal for the bear. Try the spray first and if it isn't working the .44 will usually stop anything with few shots. I am very suspicious of these people's claim.

[Mary Twane]

"Only in California would a human insist that the value of a bear supersedes two humans."

No, a life equals a life. Human or bear or otherwise. We are not god.

Please keep in mind we are invading their habitat and as such should be considered the interlopers.

[Andy B]

To Peter:

"Most encounters with bears, even those involving bluff-charges, end with the bear leaving and the people just fine."

How does one tell the difference between a 'bluff charge' and a 'real charge'?

And how am I to know that my individual experience is going to come under the heading of 'most encounters' or is today going to be the 'unusual one' that cooks my (or my companion's) bacon?

I have heard that 'griz scat' frequently contains small bells and smells of pepper. True or 'urban legend'?

As I am heading for bear country for vacation, these are serious questions.

[bob]

Bear spray? Thats's a CONDIMENT.

The best defense against a charging bear is to outrun the liberal fool who thinks you shouldn't draw your weapon until the bear has his teeth in your skull.

[Russel Timmons Shackleford]

Only in California would a human insist that the value of a bear supersedes two humans. And bear spray, use it if you enjoy being torn limb from limb.

[peter]

1) Grizzly Bears often "bluff-charge." The charge alone was no
2) Why didn't they have bear-spray? They could have driven off the bear and not killed it with a bit of fore-thought and a can of bear spray.
3) the spokesman makes it sound like the hiker drew his gun before he knew it was a bear, just after he "heard" the brush moving. That calls into question his decision to shoot--he was primed before the charge.
4) I'm not saying he shouldn't have defended himself. I'm just wishing he'd had some bear spray and some knowledge. Most encounters with bears, even those involving bluff-charges, end with the bear leaving and the people just fine.

[C. Bruce Richardson Jr.]

I think that it is illegal to discharge a firearm as in target shooting, hunting, etc. In self defense, it would be justified.

I don't consider folks having a means of defending themselves to be a "can of worms." No one in their right mind would intentionally put themselves in the position of facing a Grizzly Bear with a handgun. Thankfully the bear retreated and died of his wounds later. That a bear that was willing to attack two people was killed before he killed someone is not a tragedy in my opinion.

I tried to find the incident in Yellowstone that was mentioned with a Google search and couldn't find it. The most recent incident that I found was a camper who was asleep in his tent when he was attacked. He must not have been making enough noise. Clearly, if the facts are that a bear was killed other than in self defense, someone is in a lot of trouble and should be.

[Carmen]

I hate to hear stories like these. It's very alarming - particularly the incident about the grizzly in Yellowstone that John mentions in his comment. It is never acceptable to kill an because you think it 'might' create a problem.

[John, California]

The new gun rule does open a can of worms for sure. That this couple surprised the bear calls into question the rule of making noise when hiking in such areas. We are in the animal's home, not the other way around. Can only hope they really do a good investigation on this. A grizzly was just shot the other day for in Yellowstone I believe...the grizzly was eating and not bothering the hikers but got shot and killed anyway because the hikers thought the bear 'might' create a problem. Hope this can get cleared up in a good way somehow.

[Len Avarfon]

"According to the press release issued by Fister, it is legal to carry a firearm in the original Mt. McKinley portion of the park where the incident occurred, but it is not legal to discharge it."

What good is a gun that you can't use???