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Grizzly Wars: The Black Grizzly

© Gerald Eugene Smith

This story is taken from one of the most remarkable books about bears ever written. It is the book "Grizzly Years" by Doug Peacock, a troubled Vietnam vet who found healing and redemption in the American wilderness, especially in his many years' study of the grizzly bear. He devotes a whole chapter to the Black Grizzly and I cannot recommend too highly that you read the original. His book is readily available.

The black grizzly is the name of an especially ill-tempered dominant male who lived in the vicinity of Glacier National Park. He was avoided by all other bears (and humans) and was a confirmed cub-killer. His appearance in an area usually resulted in the other bears disappearing. Doug had an special interest in him and climbed into a remote and high-elevation area of the park (frequented by the grizzlies in part because so few tourists ever reached the area) to find him. He was not disappointed and this mean and thoroughly dangerous bear was wreaking his usual havoc.

Mr. Peacock had been watching a mother and her cub playing and feeding in a meadow in the area. The cub was jolly and happy-go-lucky, but the mother, although she was not yet aware of the presence of the Black Grizzly, knew something was wrong and was nervous and ill-at-ease. The Black Grizzly suddenly came roaring out of the underbrush straight at the family. They ran, but the cub soon fell behind and began making terror-stricken sounds as the jaws of death caught up to him. The mother than hurled herself between the Black Grizzly and her baby and let the cub run to safety under her. She let out a tremendous roar and braced herself for battle against the male. He roared back and they were soon locked in combat. The male soon had her by the throat, but she was able to break free and continue fighting. She used her agility against his superior strength and he could not defeat her. They stood face-to-face roaring. She backed off a little, then turned her head away from him, a sign she wanted peace. He also turned away and allowed the family to depart.

The Black Grizzly then went to the top of the ridge near where Doug had been observing and effectively trapped him. The sun was already low and Doug feared being stuck up there with that bear in the darkness. He made himself visible to the bear and tried speaking to him in a soothing tone. In an even fouler mood than usual after the unsuccessful battle, the bear approached him furiously clacking his teeth, his ears completely flattened against his head (always a bad sign when dealing with bears). Although unarmed, Doug held his ground and continued talking to him. The Black Grizzly stopped at just 15 feet away and stared at him. The bear had not lived so long by being stupid around humans, and he turned away and disappeared into the underbrush.