Glacier National Park - Crown of the Continent Ecosystem - Bear Research

In a press release issued May 15, 2017 Glacier National Park announced that it will begin it's annual inter-agency effort to monitor grizzly bears throughout the Crown Ecosystem. The  Park Services is asking the public to avoid entering trapping locations, and always have your bear spray handy and know how and when to use it. 

A young male grizzly bear. © Tony Bynum

Here's a grizzly location map from about 2008 . . . By the looks of it, at least within the study area and on it's margins, Grizzly bears have been, or will likely be everywhere at one time or another. Sure, some will venture beyond where humans think they should go, after all, they are still bears.  Click here see more photographs of wild grizzly bears.

The dots represent the average location of each bear. Glacier Park is north of Highway 2 and south of the Canadian Boarder. Source: Montana Department of Fish Wildlife and Parks, "Montana Outdoors," Magazine, 2009. 

According to the press release, areas where bears are actively being trapped or baited will be marked and flagged so heed the warring and avoid entering these areas. Research is a necessary part of management our resources. We should respect the request and not disrupt the data collection activities, or the bears for that matter. In a similar story, a number of years ago a man was actually killed by a bear after entering a study closer area. 

Thoughts on Bear Management 

Although I personally believe we have the data we really need at this point (researchers will always come up with more questions than answers). I believe the real problem for our bears, and most wildlife is not that we don't know enough about them, but we don't do enough of the right things, to allow them to live. It comes down to habitat, and politics. 

The two things, loss of habitat though encroachment mostly from new homes and towns expanding into the remaining high quality habitat, and the strength of the political machine to talk about the importance of habitat but then make decisions that, at least for the foreseeable future (our lifetimes and our children's) are not good for wildlife, particularly bears. 

A grizzly bear sow with her two cubs. © Tony Bynum

As a society we can't just leave a trial a trail, we have to turn it into a road. A road then becomes a highway and soon enough there are 14 foot fences down either side of a 500 foot easement streaming semi's and cars, 3 wide each way for miles. Yet we still study bears to try to find out what they need. I'll tell you what they need. To start, they need space and to be left un molested. 

I've always thought we could do away with most of the monitoring, and expense, if we would do things that we know protect the habitat. But since we cant do that, we have to keep looking for more minutia or that silver bullet that says, "if we do this, it will be okay, go ahead and drill right here." 

More education and less study is what we need. We need an ecological ethic. 

Well folks, I'll leave you with this from Aldo Leopold: 

“The time has come for science to busy itself with the earth itself. The first step is to reconstruct a sample of what we had to start with. That in a nutshell is the Arboretum.” The Arboretum and the University, The River of the Mother of God.

Full copy of the Glacier National Park Grizzly Monitoring Press Release 

May 15, 2017

Lauren Alley 406-888-5838

MEDIA17-18

Annual Bear Monitoring and Capturing Begins

Visitors urged to be alert and follow bear safety protocols while hiking in the park

WEST GLACIER, MT – Each year, Glacier National Park participates in an interagency effort to monitor grizzly bear population trends in the Northern Continental Divide Ecosystem.

To monitor population trends, bait stations, automated cameras, and traps are used to capture and mark the animals. There are an estimated 300 grizzly bears living in the park. The park’s goal is to maintain a sample of up to 10 radio-marked female grizzly bears for this monitoring effort. This year, some bears may receive a collar for the first time. Others may have a collar replaced if it is near the end of its useful lifespan.

Brightly colored warning signs identify bait stations and trap sites. Visitors are required to heed these signs and not enter closed areas. In 2010, a man was killed by a grizzly bear seven miles east of Yellowstone National Park after wandering into a capture site. Trapping efforts will continue May 15 through October at various locations throughout the park.

“Glacier National Park is bear country, and park visitors should be prepared for bear sightings, in addition to following other hiking safety precautions,” said Jeff Mow, Glacier National Park Superintendent.

Park visitors should travel in groups and make loud noises by calling out or clapping their hands at frequent intervals, especially near streams, and at blind spots on trails. These actions help avoid surprise bear encounters. Do not approach any wildlife; instead, use binoculars, telescopes, or telephoto lenses to get a closer look. Visitors should maintain a minimum distance of 100 yards from any bear within the park. 

While carrying firearms within national parks and wildlife refuges is permitted as consistent with state laws, proper use of bear spray has proven to be the best method for fending off threatening and attacking bears, and for preventing injury to the person and animal involved. Wounding a bear, even with a large caliber firearm, can put you and others in far greater danger.

Anyone participating in recreational activities in bear country is highly encouraged to have bear spray. The bear spray should be readily accessible, and hikers should know how to use it.

Visitors should store food, garbage and other attractants in hard-sided vehicles or bear-proof food storage boxes when not in use. Garbage must be deposited into a bear-resistant trash can or dumpster. These actions help keep bears from becoming conditioned to human food, and help keep park visitors and their personal property safe.

Visitors should report any bear sightings or signs of bear activity to the nearest visitor center, ranger station or by calling 406-888-7800 as soon as possible.

In addition to bear safety precautions, hikers in Glacier National Park should review other safety measures to take when exploring park trails. To help plan day hiking trips in the park, Glacier offers a Day Trip Plan to help visitors prepare for their hike. Before departure, it is vital to tell someone where in the park you are going, and how long you expect to be gone. Visitors should carry the ten essentials, including a map of the area, a compass, a flashlight, extra food, extra clothing, sunglasses and sunscreen, a pocketknife, matches in a waterproof container, a candle or other fire starter, and a first aid kit. Visitors should also carry bear spray and be prepared for suddenly changing weather events.

For more information about how to safely explore Glacier National Park, visit http://www.nps.gov/glac. 

Rising Sun Camp Ground closed due to grizzly and black bear encounters

Just a "public" service announciment . . .   Reposting the Press Release from the NPS - Glacier National Park. . . 

Rising Sun Campground Closed Temporarily

Rangers to Conduct Aversive Bear Conditioning      

 

WEST GLACIER, MONT. –Recent bear incidents at the Rising Sun Campground, located on the east of the park, have prompted the temporary closure of the campground.  Early Monday morning the upper loop of the campground was closed, and the lower loop was only open to hard-sided camping.  As of Tuesday, August 6, the entire campground will be closed to all camping.  All campers are being provided an opportunity to relocate to another campground within the park. 

 

Early Sunday morning a bear, believed to be a small sub-adult black bear, approached and laid on a corner of a tent that was occupied by sleeping campers.  The campers awoke and started yelling, and observed a black bear running from the tent.  There have been two other incidents in the campground and surrounding area within the past month, all believed to be with the same bear.  One incident involved the bear snatching a pillow from a sleeping camper, and the other incident involved the bear going through some clothing that was located along the lakeshore.  The incidents included no injuries. 

 

It appears that the bear is not looking for a food reward, or that it has received one, but it is learning to approach and handle human materials.    Park rangers and wildlife managers will conduct aversive conditioning, or negative reinforcement, to attempt to modify the bear’s behavior.  This will include trapping the bear, tagging the bear, and conducting hazing techniques using bean bags, rubber bullets, and/or noise stimulus.  It is anticipated that these conditioning actions may take a few days. 

 

A grizzly bear has recently been sighted in the area as well.  Since a trap will be used, and it may trap the grizzly bear, the entire campground will be temporarily closed for visitor and bear safety. 

 

The nightly Rising Sun Campground Programs will be moved to the St. Mary Campground during this temporary closure.   Visitors for the program that are not camping at the St. Mary Campground are encouraged to park at the St. Mary Visitor Center and walk a short distance across the footbridge for the program. 

 

The Rising Sun Campground has 83 sites and is a first-come first-serve facility.  It is unknown the duration of the campground closure.  For updated information about access, please visit the park’s campground status page at http://home.nps.gov/applications/glac/cgstatus/cgstatus.cfm or contact the park at 406-888-7800. 

Spring has made it to Glacier Country - Grizzly Bears are out - It's time to get your bear spray ready!

The first signs that spring is upon us in Glacier National Park is the presence of grizzly bear tracks, usually spotted in late March and early April.  While it is true that grizzly bears can and often do poke their heads out during the winter, the presence of regular tracks and sightings begins in the spring.

Please be sure to be bear aware if you're anywhere in Western Montana. Now is the time to check to make sure you have your bear spray handy!  I always like to check the expiration dates on all my bear spray cans each spring. I'm pretty sure they would still work well past their expiration date, but for the price of a new can of bear spray, why chance it?

I use and like very much the bear spray produced here in Kalispell, Montana by, Counter Assault.

Grizzly Bear Sow and Cub on the shore of Sherburne Lake
Glacier National Park. ©tonybynum.com. Photo may not
be used without permission from Tony Bynum. 

I recently checked in with Counter Assault to ask them about what to do with old cans, and here's what Melissa had to say: "disposal of counter assault is simple. Just point the can at the ground, clear of pets, animals, and other people, be sure the wind is not going to bring the product back into your direction, and discharge the can. Next wrap the can in news paper and dispose of it in the trash."

Sounds simple enough!  I actually had two cans that were past their pull dates. So, I went out and gave it a try. I actually wore latex gloves just in case, but it was very simple. I put the breeze to my back and discharged the cans on to the ground, wrapped them up and in the trash they went.

Be sure to check with the National Park Service - Glacier National Park website for road closures and other important park dates.

Get out there and start taking photos!

Tony Bynum

Grizzly Bears Are Showing Along the Rocky Mountain Front

Two young grizzly bear cubs emerge from their winter slumber
along the Rocky Mountain Front.
Nikon D300, 500mm, 1.4x extender. © Tony Bynum. 

It's that time of year again when the grass greens up, the buds on the Aspen trees start to swell, and the grizzly bears become active after a long winter's rest.  Montana Fish Wildlife and Parks bear biologist recently flew the rocky mountain front front and found that there many active bears. I encourage anyone who's going out hiking, recreating or taking a stroll to be aware of the potential for a grizzly bear encounter. The best way to protect yourself is to make some noise - so a bear know's your around - and if you become the target of aggression, bear spray is the best, final defense.  Learn to use it, and pack it!

Click here for the full story by Carl Puckett who interviewed Mike Madel.

Tony

Grizzly Bears are Showing near Glacier Park

Sure sign of spring, the grizzly bears are out. This means pull your bird feeders and pack your bear spray! Nuf-said . . .  
Grizzly bears are out along the Rocky Mountain Front! (link to full story in the Great Falls Tribune).

A sow Grizzly bear emerges from her den and cautiously walks across a snow drift. Glacier National Park, Montana. © Tony Bynum, All Rights Reserved.  

What Makes Me Creative - I'm an Explorer - Grizzly Bears

Montana, A Huge Breath of Fresh Air!  

What makes one creative? Is it place, is it age, is it genetics, experience . . ? As I crossed back into Montana from Idaho along I-90, returning from a recent trip to the Pacific Northwest, I felt like I was back home. Immediately after passing the "welcome to Montana" billboard, I rolled down the window, even while the snow was clipping by at 50 mph, and snatched a gulp of cold, clean, crisp Montana air. Next, I happily pushed the clock ahead one hour, to catch up to the mountain time zone - just being in the mountain time zone makes me feel more at home.

Do you have a place that makes you feel like you're at home? Does your soul know when it's connected to the earth and the air?  Where on this planet do you feel most connected, balanced and at home?  For me it's Montana and the Rocky Mountains, particularly the eastern slopes where it's cold, windy, and the sky's are as large as my imagination with boundaries set only by the rugged cliffs, endless sky and my ability to navigate the terrain.

Being in a place that makes me feel like I'm at home is what allows me to be creative.  This does not mean I dont travel or that I'm not creative when I'm shooting on the road, quite the contrary.  It means that place is important to me and it's important to have a place that allows you to feel at home. For me that's Glacier Country in Montana.  It's beautiful, remote, timeless, rugged, hard, clean, and free. There are no Starbuck's, no Costco's, no traffic and few people.  It does get lonely at times, cell service often sucks, there are fewer job opportunities and housing is marginal, and I have to work harder than most of my colleagues, but the quality of life that it all brings and the creativity that it allows me to generate makes it all seem like the right place at the right time!  Are you living in your creative place?       

Spring In East Glacier and Grizzly Bears

It's spring in East Glacier, a good deal of local snow pack left last week, but there's still mountains in my yard, and today it's cold and the forecast is for more winter like weather. It's almost May so it can't be long now until we see more dirt, grass and soil than ice and snow! Already we are only 50 days from the longest day of the year, the trees are budding in places, all a sure signs of spring. It also means the bears are out and lurking around. Be sure to give yourself a bear spray refresher (know how it works) and above all, be sure you have a fresh can on you and ready for use when you're out!  

More on Grizzly Bears. I'm often asked where to find bears, how to photograph them, how close do I get and so on.  I always remark, "grizzly bears are where you find them, they are anywhere and everywhere at any time. You have to be on guard and alert at all times. Don't approach them, and for heavens sake, don't try to track them down." I very much enjoy a good photograph of a grizzly bear but I do not seek the critters out, instead I use opportunity and seize it when it presents itself and without danger.  

To me there's something magical and invigorating about living and working in a landscape where a bear is on top of the pyramid, but I also give them respect, their space, and do whatever I can to avoid encounters with them while in the back-country.    

On that note, this is the time of year that I pay special attention to what's going on around me when I'm outside. Since I like to roam widely and make my own path - trails and obvious routs are not my style - trails are for hikers, and I'm an explorer - in the spring I try to be more visible and less quite than ever.  The bears like brush, creek bottoms and places where's there's lush green forbs growing. And soon, the boars will be chasing the sow's around which makes their exact locations unpredictable!    

I dont recommend people set out in search of bears to photograph, at least not in Glacier National Park.  The grizzly bears around here are well known for their aggressive and "territorial" behavior. If you want really to photography grizzly bears there are lots of great places in Alaska where you can get all the pictures you want and remain relatively safe doing it.

As a closing note, I'd like to thank the dedicated members of the Professional Outdoor Media Association for all the their generous support in electing me to the Board of Directors.  I was honored to receive the nomination and now I'm very happy to accept the position!  Thank you POMA!  

Tony   

 

PS

COME TO MISSOULA, MT on May 3rd for a great presentation!  

If you need something to do next Tuesday, come the University of Montana on May 3rd, where at 6:30 PM I'll be showing on the big screen, some of my images of the Rocky Mountain Front, and Ben Lamb of the Montana Wildlife Federation will be speaking about the Rocky Mountain Front - check it out here: http://bit.ly/muA4aL

Glacier National Park, fall's over already?

Thank you for participating in my recent poll. Since the results are split I guess people just want to know more about everything. . . how refreshing. I'm happy to learn that people are interested in all sorts of wonderful things. This means I'll have plenty of subject matter to guide my posts this winter, I just have to keep up with the updates!  In this post I'll tell you a little about what I've been up to, list some shooting data for the images in the post, and I'll share with you the secret to becoming a better photographer.

Before I get to the secret, I'll mention that since I last posed I've traveled thousands of miles across Montana and Alberta Canada and shot everything from elk to frogs and even a few dead animals on the highway and a huge mound of bear scat - gota keep building the stock! This fall's colors were some of the best I can remember. Color abounded. I did notice that most places peaked a bit early this year, as compared to historical peaks. I cant explain this, can you?

More recently, Saturday I think it was, my friend Stacy and I took a trip into Glacier Park and found, 5 grizzly bears, about 50 goats, 150 bighorn sheep, a few moose, some whitetail and mule deer, a mink, lots of birds including a group of 20 gray and stellar's jays, some swans, and some people -- actually lots of people for this time of year. It seems that every year more people play longer in the park. This brings me to the latest news from today.  Here's an image from that trip.

Bull moose feeding on willow branches.  Nikon d300 and Nikon 70-200 2.8 VR af-s, f5 @ 125th hand held @ 200mm (digital equivalent: 300mm).  

And how about a short video of two of the five grizzlies I saw.  Checkout the color of that cub!

And before the day was over, we managed after searching for what seemed like hours to find a few bighorn sheep.  These boys are getting ready for the rut later in November.  Thank my lovely assistant Stacy for filming this segment.

I went to take a stroll up around two medicine lake but the road was closed. I suspect that the forecast for possible snow caused the park service to lock the gates even before there was snow on the road. It use to be that the road stayed open until the snow closed it. Not anymore, anyone care to share with the rest of us why they close the road when it' bare?

Two Medicine Road at Park Boundary - CLOSED!  Nikon d700 24-120 af-s, VR II lens, f11 @ 160th

As you can tell, I'm a little disappointed by this as this is the time of year I like to get out into the Park and with the roads closed it's difficult to go in very far in a day.  Oh well, maybe they will reopen them before the years out . . .

With all the leaves gone and the snow just starting to fall, I guess fall really is over.  I'm looking forward to seeing what the next few weeks will bring!  Fall and early winter are my favorite times of the year.  The light is good all day, the animals are still active and chasing down the last of the seasons green vegetation and the air is cool, crisp and cold!

And now for the secret to how to be a successful outdoor, nature and wildlife photographer.  GET OUT OF BED! That's it, that's the secret.  I'm convinced that it is the single most important thing you can do if you want to make something of your photographic efforts.  You have to get up and be in the correct location when the light gets good.

For me that's easy, or at lest it has been for the past 40 years.  I love to get up early.  My mother told me that even before I was out of the crib I was waking up at 5 and sometimes 4am.  She said I'd stand in my crib with a loud smile ready to get up and get the day going.  I still like to get up early and have a burning desire to see the sunrise every day.  While I'm not a huge fan of silhouettes, I do believe this one of a massive bugling bull elk is a once in a lifetime image that's worthy of anyones archives, but more importantly and to the point, it's an example of what's possible when you get up early (this is NOT a recreation or a composite, and it's not "photo-shopped," this is the real thing)!  

Trophy bull elk bugles atop a ridge as the sun burns the clouds red before it peaks over the horizon.  Nikon d700 200-400 af-s VR II, ISO 800, 1/200th @ f4, hand held.  

I'm exited to see what the next few weeks brings!  Snow, no snow, ice, wind, sun or rain, I'll be out there and getting up early!

Cheers, Tony

Glacier Park Birthday, Empire Builder Cover, Help, Grizzly Bears, Construction, Great Clouds!

Happy Birthday Glacier Park! 
Yesterday was the official Glacier National Park 100 year birthday.  Jaida and I attend the celebration and had a great time!  The weather was great and the people were fantastic!


Glacier National Park Cover
the magazine "Empire Builder" picked up one of my images for the cover of its summer 2010 issue. Here's what it looks like. . .

Help Me Shoot You!
I'm looking for models to help me create images of people recreating and living in Montana and specifically glacier national park. I'd like to shoot hiking and biking. I'd also like to do some exploring around eastern Montana to so if youre from that part of the country and have an interest in making images of you doing something fun, please let me know! tony@tonybynum.com

Grizzly's and a Wolf
Check out this great footage of a grizzly sow and two cubs taking on a lone wolf - nothing gory, it's fun to watch!  http://bit.ly/d5hCcg

We're Getting New Pavement!
That's right, the underpass to the lodge on hwy 49 is being redone, and boy is it time. The guys with the state highway department are digging up the underpass hopefully this time the problems will be solved. This road is constantly being torn up and in the past one could lose an entire wheel into one of the potholes, particularly if you come here driving one of those new cars that runs on peddle power a or a plug in! Thanks Montana highway department!

Great Clouds Lately!
This spring has been a bit cold lately but that made for some outstanding clouds and micro-storms over Glacier National Park!

 Until next time, keep shooting!

Tony Bynum