During my most recent visit, I made a
stop at the Grizzly Discovery Center in
West Yellowstone. It is home to a handful
of rescued grizzly bears as well as a pack
of wolves. I recommend this place to
anyone who, like me, would rather not
encounter a grizzly bear in the wild. At
least, not this close.
I should mention that people have died
from grizzly attacks too. Bears have a lot
of power, and are very territorial. If you're
hiking in bear country, do what I did-
invest in "bear bells" for your backpack, so
you'll stand less of a chance of surprising a
bear.
stop at the Grizzly Discovery Center in
West Yellowstone. It is home to a handful
of rescued grizzly bears as well as a pack
of wolves. I recommend this place to
anyone who, like me, would rather not
encounter a grizzly bear in the wild. At
least, not this close.
I should mention that people have died
from grizzly attacks too. Bears have a lot
of power, and are very territorial. If you're
hiking in bear country, do what I did-
invest in "bear bells" for your backpack, so
you'll stand less of a chance of surprising a
bear.
The Grizzly Discovery Center does a great
service to these animals. Some of their
grizzlies were "problem animals" that were
spared being destroyed and instead sent to
live here in West Yellowstone.
You could watch these bears and wolves
for hours. And throughout the day, the park
employees hide food throughout the bear
habitat for the bears to find. It is, to say the
least, quite amusing.
Oh, sure they're cute. Everyone loves
bears. In the wild, however, I'd rather not
meet one face-to-face. I am, after all, in their
territory.
service to these animals. Some of their
grizzlies were "problem animals" that were
spared being destroyed and instead sent to
live here in West Yellowstone.
You could watch these bears and wolves
for hours. And throughout the day, the park
employees hide food throughout the bear
habitat for the bears to find. It is, to say the
least, quite amusing.
Oh, sure they're cute. Everyone loves
bears. In the wild, however, I'd rather not
meet one face-to-face. I am, after all, in their
territory.
As many people know, with help the
wolves had made a comeback to
Yellowstone. The government had
ordered that all wolves in the park be
destroyed, and the last one in the park
was killed in the 1950s. This was
before we realized that wolves aren't
savage man-eating brutes. In fact,
seeing a wild wolf in Yellowstone is a
rare experience, because they don't
like to be around people and prefer to
keep to themselves.
With this in mind, I was content with
seeing the captive pack at the Grizzly
Discovery Center. Born in captivity,
these wolves would be unable to
survive in the wild.
wolves had made a comeback to
Yellowstone. The government had
ordered that all wolves in the park be
destroyed, and the last one in the park
was killed in the 1950s. This was
before we realized that wolves aren't
savage man-eating brutes. In fact,
seeing a wild wolf in Yellowstone is a
rare experience, because they don't
like to be around people and prefer to
keep to themselves.
With this in mind, I was content with
seeing the captive pack at the Grizzly
Discovery Center. Born in captivity,
these wolves would be unable to
survive in the wild.
I have promised myself a trip to Wolf
Park in Indiana and Wolf Haven in
Washington, but this place gave me a
good start. I love wolves, and I think
that we have done them a great
injustice. They are beautiful creatures,
shy, and survive within the strong
bonds of family. I believe they are
more intelligent than most people
believe they are, and I feel sorry for
every wolf shot down by a farmer. If
you're going to raise livestock in wolf
territory, the survival-driven wolf will
go for easy prey when food is scarce.
And no one has ever been killed by a
wolf.
Park in Indiana and Wolf Haven in
Washington, but this place gave me a
good start. I love wolves, and I think
that we have done them a great
injustice. They are beautiful creatures,
shy, and survive within the strong
bonds of family. I believe they are
more intelligent than most people
believe they are, and I feel sorry for
every wolf shot down by a farmer. If
you're going to raise livestock in wolf
territory, the survival-driven wolf will
go for easy prey when food is scarce.
And no one has ever been killed by a
wolf.
Now, though I didn't see any of Yellowstone's wild wolves, I am told that they can sometimes be
seen in the Lamar Valley, at the Northeast quadrant of the park. Just in case you wanted to know.
seen in the Lamar Valley, at the Northeast quadrant of the park. Just in case you wanted to know.