Elk and Bear

There were 10 of us from the Boy Scout Troop (7 Scouts, 3 Adults) doing a 10-mile hike in the Old Faithful area. We started at Old Faithful, went north along the boardwalks by the geysers, and then up to Mystic Falls. We had already visited Mystic Falls and were on our way back along the Daisy Cut-off Bike Trail.

At one point, we spotted an elk about 20 feet off to the side of the trail. The elk was facing away from us. We started to take pictures.



  Elk on side of path. Credit: Guy Ingram


  Elk on side of path. Credit: Reid Neinast


  Elk on side of path. Credit: Guy Ingram


Guy Ingram went a little ahead of us. After he had taken a few pictures, we tried to get the elk's attention so that it would look at us. We whistled a fair bit, but the elk did not turn its head.



  Elk on alert. Credit: Guy Ingram


All of the sudden, the elk turned towards us and made a mad dash right in front of Guy. It must have passed within 10 feet of him, and even leapt as it went by him.



  Time to flee. Credit: Guy Ingram


  It's panic time. Credit: Guy Ingram


In a moment we found out why the elk had fled. A grizzly bear charged out of the woods going after it. One of us yelled "Bear!", but at first Guy thought we were joking.

The elk quickly outpaced the bear. While the elk crossed the Firehole River, the bear noticed us and stopped on the trail about 30 feet away.

We stayed together, kept facing the bear, and slowly backed down the trail. There were 10 of us, and as long as one of us did not break free (separate from the herd ), we were probably much more than the bear would consider going after.



  The reason for panic. Credit: Reid Neinast


Since the grizzly was coming down the trail at us, we decided the better part of valor was to get off the trail. We backed off, to our right, until we were probably about 30 feet from the trail.

Meanwhile, it then started sniffing around where the elk had gone. It was clear that it didn't really know what to do next: go after the elk some more, or go after us?



  Getting off the trail. Credit: Braden Powell


  Where'd the elk go? I can smell it. Credit: Guy Ingram


  It was here somewhere. Credit: Braden Powell


  Check it out further. Credit: Guy Ingram


  Still checking out where the elk went. Credit: Reid Neinast


  Maybe those people know where it went. Credit: Braden Powell


  Close up (full resolution) of previous shot. Credit: Braden Powell


  Sniffing the Air. Credit: Braden Powell


The bear stood up in order to sniff the air to try to figure out just what was around.



  Close up (full resolution) of previous shot. Credit: Braden Powell


At this point the bear started ambling back down the trail at us. The bear passed by us on the trail right-to-left, then turned around and passed by us again left-to-right, all the while keeping an eye on us.



  Hmmm, people? . . . Yummmm. Credit: Reid Neinast


  Ehhh. Maybe not. Galumph on by. Credit: Braden Powell


  Oh, let's check out the people again. Credit: Reid Neinast


  They're still there. Credit: Braden Powell


At this point, the bear headed over to the Firehole River where the elk had crossed, trying to pick up where it had gone.



  Checking out elk scent. Credit: Braden Powell


  More investigatin'. Credit: Braden Powell


Eventually, the grizzly headed back into the woods where it had come from.

We turned around and took a detour to a different path on the other side of the river to return to Old Faithful.

Along that path we came across some bicyclists who we had seen earlier (and who must have gone right past the bear at some point). We warned them of the bear, and they turned around, too.

On our return trip down the other path, we came across a ranger and told our story; she asked us to file a report back at the Visitor's Center once we got there. When we did so, one of the other rangers told us that they had had other reports of the bear. It seemed to be a 3-year old who was still finding his place in the world. They also mentioned that this particular bear had killed a baby elk a few days ago.