A wildlife podcaster and bear biologist captured chilling video of a grizzly chasing a moose at the same Montana campsite where a bear once killed a camper.
Wes Larson, host of the Tooth and Claw podcast that covers animal attacks, posted the footage to his social media accounts on Saturday, June 15.
“Last July we covered the story of Kevin Kammer, a man who was pulled out of his tent, killed and eaten by a grizzly bear with cubs in site 26 of Soda Butte Campground, Montana in 2010,” he said.
The campground is nestled within the Custer Gallatin National Forest, about a 60-mile drive east from Gardiner.
He was near the campground and “decided to check it out late one evening,” he said in the post.
“The campground was deserted and the gate was unlocked so I drove in,” he said. “On the other side of the campground I saw the dark shape of a moose in the trees, so I moved closer to capture it with my camera. Turns out I wasn’t the only one watching the moose….”
The video shows the moose run out from the treeline toward Larson’s car before pausing to glance back at the charging grizzly. Then it turns to run off past his car with the bear pursuing closely behind it.
“After the interaction was over and the unsuccessful bear grazed on clover in a field nearby, I checked the site number where the chase had just unfolded,” he said. “It was Site 26, the very same location of the fatal mauling 14 years ago.”
What to do if you see a bear
Bear attacks in the U.S. are rare, according to the National Park Service. In most attacks, bears are trying to defend their food, cubs or space.
There are steps people can take to help prevent a bear encounter from becoming a bear attack.
- Identify yourself: Talk calmly and slowly wave your arms. This can help the bear realize you’re a human and nonthreatening.
- Stay calm: Bears usually don’t want to attack; they want to be left alone. Talk slowly and with a low voice to the bear.
- Don’t scream: Screaming could trigger an attack.
- Pick up small children: Don’t let kids run away from the bear. It could think they’re small prey.
- Hike in groups: A group is noisier and smellier, the National Park Service said. Bears like to keep their distance from groups of people.
- Make yourself look big: Move to higher ground and stand tall. Don’t make any sudden movements.
- Don’t drop your bag: A bag on your back can keep a bear from accessing food, and it can provide protection.
- Walk away slowly: Move sideways so you appear less threatening to the bear. This also lets you keep an eye out.
- Again, don’t run: Bears will chase you, just like a dog would.
- Don’t climb trees: Grizzlies and black bears can also climb.
This article by Brooke Baitinger was first published by The Idaho Statesman on 18 June 2024. Lead Image: A wildlife podcaster and bear biologist captured chilling video of a grizzly chasing a moose at the same Montana campsite where a bear once killed a camper. Screenshot of Wes Larson’s video on X, formerly known as Twitter.
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