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Grizzly Details Off the Mark

By Ben Meisner

I don’t pretend to be a Grizzly bear expert, but I can say that as many of you like to golf,  I like to hunt Grizz. 

I have been trying every year to get a draw, and when I do, that doesn’t guarantee that I will see the kind of bear that I would like to take. 

He will have to be very special, and in the last 15 years it just hasn’t happened. 

So it was with great interest that I read the Citizen article the other day telling a story about how some folks had encountered a sow Grizzly supposedly weighing in at 1200 lbs, along with two year old cubs weighing in at 700 to 900 lbs.

 As a matter of interest, the largest Grizz that has been taken in B.C. came from out around Smithers a few years ago. It was a giant male and is believed to have been the largest Grizzly ever taken in this province; 1200 lbs. Females weigh about 60 to 70 % of the males. Two year old cubs will weigh about 160 to 189 lbs. 

The people in question may have seen a couple of cubs that could have been as much as four years old still living with their mother. These bears can weigh up to 300 lbs. Young cubs will stay with their mother for between 1 ½ and 4 years. Depending on when she mates again. 

The bulk of bear attacks on humans invariably involve black bears weighing less than 200 lbs and Grizzlies less than 300 .Big old Grizzlies simply don’t get big without being very smart. 

The Grizzly attack on Arthur Louie did not, as the story goes, take place within ten miles of where these folks saw this trio of Grizzlies.  To suggest that these are the same bears is a bit of a stretch. Unless they are in their fall migration they have little reason to travel that far that quickly. 

Myths are myths and for some strange reason, bears seem to get their share. Would a sow Grizzly rush up from the bush if she had a kill stashed? Absolutely, she obviously came to the road to warn those coming into her territory to stay clear and her cubs will mimic her behavior. 

It is no different then say some dogs when they are eating get very upset when you come near their food, Bulls will false charge to get you out of the road, and Dogs will charge with the intention of letting you know to stay clear. Bears are no different.  Given the fact that a sow Grizzly lives under constant fear of a bigger bear or a pack of wolves or some other predator coming along and killing her cubs, they become very protective. 

Few cubs survive to become adults, there is a reason, and it is not because they are chasing ATV’s. I hold to the belief that the attack on the man on the Bowron Road may have been done by the two cubs who may in fact have no mother for what ever reason and having not been taught to have a fear of man , simply saw a meal . 

The Aleza Lake story in the Citizen did not examine the basic facts. The bear had a kill, came onto the road to tell the folks on the ATV to stay clear. Are Grizzlies dangerous?  Under the right circumstance yes, but you could walk up and down the Bowron Road a million times without the same incident happening again. 

I recall  the late George Ivanoff saying to me that he had seen a grizzly near his camp lots of times and it never bothered him.  I told him it only takes once and if the bear becomes more familiar with you, at some point he may decide you're dinner. 

You have to be in the right place at the right time to be hit by lightning. Believe me, over the past 15 years I have tried to be there at the right time for a giant Grizzly and to no ones surprise, my tag is still empty. 

Grizzly bears for some strange reason make a great story.

 I’m Meisner and that is one man's opinion.

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