A bear attacked multiple people at a Montana campground. CC by Eathan/Picasa
When a female bear rampaged through Soda Butte Campground in Montana on Wednesday, a woman and a teen were injured, and one man was killed. The National Park Service has already launched an investigation into the attack. Camping in National Parks is usually very safe, but this attack proves that wild animals can be, at times, dangerous.
Soda Butte Campground bear attack
The Soda Butte Montana bear attack started at about 2 a.m. on Wednesday. One camper was killed, and two people were badly injured. Three separate campsites were attacked and rangers evacuated the campground relatively quickly after they found out about the attacks.
Unprovoked bear attack
Campers who are in bear country are usually warned to do everything they can to avoid bears. Unfortunately, it appears that the Montana bear attack was not specifically provoked. The National Park Service is still investigating. Rangers said they did not find any food or attractants outside bear boxes in the campsites where the attacks occur. The very busy campground may have made the bear feel she or her cubs were in danger.
Soda Butte Campground has had previous attacks
In the past, Soda Butte Campground has seen other bear attacks. The campground is about 10 acres large and lives about 10 miles outside Yellowstone National Park. One man was killed in 2008 during a grizzly bear attack. The bear that was involved in that attack was captured.
Keeping yourself safe from bears
There are a few, very simple things you can do to protect yourself from bears. First of all, make sure your food is kept in a bear-proof container, your car trunk, or hung up and out of reach. Keep any and all trash in wildlife resistant containers. Finally, you should sleep at least 300 feet away from your cooking areas.
I am reading this article in complete and utter shock. You see, I am partially blind and I more or less have to scan back and forth to see the whole picture. Add to that I am also a little near-sighted. I saw something as my family and I were on our way out of Yellowstone. I thought it was a buffalo at first. I kept blinking and realized NO it isn't. It is about the same size but the colori is much lighter. I blinked some more as we were driving by and the way the light was shining on it I could tell it had more shaggy hair than a buffalo. I yelled to my mom, who was driving, "Mom! I think I saw a grizzly bear!!!" I proceeded to tell her why I thought so. She turned around to drive by and see if she could tell it better, but whatever it was was gone in the woods by then. I thought it was a miracle that my eyes even saw it. I would of had to have my eyes land and focus on just the right spot and have just the right kind of lighting for me to even see it! I cried quietly feelinghappy I finally got to see something for myself. Little did I know, doubting myself just a little. For almost everytime my mom and my kids saw stuff, I could never quite see it, leaving me a little discouraged. My mom read this article today, the day after our arriving home from our long 2 week road trip, and she just couldn't believe it. This bear attack happened in the A.M. and I saw it later that day in the afternoon. Of course I am very saddened by the loss of the man's life. It will be something I will be praying for for the family.