She likely defended her cubs and got out of there another grizzly, maybe a lone boar, could have come along and found the dead body and took advantage of an easy meal. He also rightfully points out that the sow who apparently killed Crosby is not necessarily the same bear that partially consumed him.

Live free or die, I say.)ĭoug Peacock - author of Grizzly Years, who has spent more time around and knows wild grizzlies and their behavior better than anyone else I have ever heard of - has been pleading for sparing the bear. They may kill the cubs, too, if they can't find a zoo or some other captive future for the poor young grizzly. If the adult bear's DNA matches those of hair and other evidence gathered at the scene the park service says it will 'euthanize' her - a less harsh way of saying they will kill her. T hree bears have been captured in the area, a sow and two cubs. Extensive wounds were found on Crosby's arms, probably from trying to fend off the attack. The sow responded as mother grizzlies often naturally do - aggressively defending her cub. Those who have pieced the incident together surmise this: Crosby was hiking alone near the Elephant Back Trail when he likely startled the sow and her cubs while the bears were resting. The suspected bear is a sow who had cubs with her. By all accounts, he was an experienced hiker who loved the wilds, including wild grizzlies. Crosby was an employee of Medcor, an urgent care company, where he worked as a nurse within the Park. But - enter at your own risk.' - Edward AbbeyĪ 63-year-old man named Lance Crosby of Billings, Montana, was killed and partially-consumed by a grizzly bear (or two) in Yellowstone National Park last Friday, August 7, near a popular trail in the Lake Village area. But we must not allow our national parks and national forests to be degraded to the status of mere playgrounds. A wild place without dangers is an absurdity, although I realize that danger creates administrative problems for park and forest managers. Any places that lacks GRIZ, or lions or tigers, or a rhino or two, is not, in his opinion, worthy of the name 'wilderness.' A good definition, worthy of serious consideration.

My bear-loving friend Peacock goes so far as to define wilderness as a place and only a place where one enjoys the opportunity of being attacked by a dangerous wild animal. 'No doubt about it, the presence of bear, especially grizzly bear, adds a spicy titillation to a stroll in the woods.

Grizzly years by doug peacock