Ghost Grizzlies..the book

[Bonedalien]

a very interesting book by David Peterson about the very real possibility of there being an isolated population of grizzlies in the rugged San Juan Mts of SW Colorado. Has anyone else read this?
What do you locals down there think?

 

[Sooner]

I've never read it. I will now though. We were camping in the San Juans 7 or 8 years ago. It was memorial day weekend. An old man that was a local pulled into our camp an told us several stories about grizzlies in the area. He said Elk hunters report every year about seeing brown bears with the "hump" on their back. Everytime one would report it to the CO DOW they would get the universal answer "theirs no grizzles in CO" He had alot of neat stories.

 

[Bonedalien]

yep,its pointed out that if the feds did recognize grizzlies it would affect everything, ranching,grazing,hunting,recreation,mineral extraction,ect.literaly everything that drives the economy there.
It does however,seem that there is a poorly kept secret among the locals that something other than black bears are cruising that range.

 

[marinesar]

I've read the book and found it very interesting....I have also spent some time in that part of the state and while I haven't seen any proof of grizzly bears, I sure wouldn't discount the points Mr Peterson makes in his book. It is rough, rugged, and remote country. I bring up his book every now and then when discussing the topic of bears or remote wilderness in Colorado, it is fun to think about and talk about with others....

 

[TEmbry]

I wouldn't rule it out as possible... just hard to believe there hasn't been solid proof by now.

Kind of like the Mountain Lions of the Eastern US. Sure 3 or 4 obscure cases pop up every year or two of one making a 2,000 mile journey or escaping from captivity.... but go to any rural area in Kentucky and strike up a conversation with a group of farmers/hunters/rednecks and 1 of every 3 to 4 people has personally seen a cougar or even better black panther in their life.... Again its possible, but with the thousands and thousands if not millions of game cameras/people with phones and cameras out there now why has there been not one shred of actual proof?

 

[justin davis]

I've seen some pics in recent years by guys taking in Colorado. Sure looks like grizz to me.

I think it is just like the wolverine in Colorado. DOW always said they are extinct. "Not in Colorado"

Heard reports of people seein them but DOW insisted saying "nope no wolverines in Colorado"

A couple years ago a photographer got great close up pics of a wolverine in rocky Mtn national park. Hard to argue with the pics. I think this is the same story for griz.

 

[realunlucky]

Doesn't it mention they are illegal to harvest in the proclamation? I'm going to see if I can find my copy

 

[TEmbry]

I've seen some pics in recent years by guys taking in Colorado. Sure looks like grizz to me.

I think it is just like the wolverine in Colorado. DOW always said they are extinct. "Not in Colorado"

Heard reports of people seein them but DOW insisted saying "nope no wolverines in Colorado"

A couple years ago a photographer got great close up pics of a wolverine in rocky Mtn national park. Hard to argue with the pics. I think this is the same story for griz.

Definitely wouldn't write it off. Just skeptical until solid proof emerges I guess instead of mountain folk lore. It also strikes me as interesting that they are claimed to be in Southern CO but not the northern end which is far closer to where Grizz are known to be.

 

[justin davis]

Yea they also say wolves aren't in Colorado too. And a few have been hit on highways if I remember.

http://forums.bowsite.com/tf/regional/thread.cfm?threadid=194003&MESSAGES=19&state=Co

 

[justin davis]

A guy killed a grizzly sow in 1979.

Here is a bowsite thread with a pic of what looks like a grizz. Another guy on bowsite said he had a friend shoot a grizz in "self defense". DOW confiscated the bear.

http://forums.bowsite.com/tf/bgforums/thread-print.cfm?threadid=386179&forum=5


I think it is very possible for griz to be here. Maybe only a couple. By there are some pretty remote areas in Colorado where a few could hide in my opinion. They are in southern Wyoming. Why wouldn't they be in Colorado? Maybe the obey the state line and stay in Wyoming.

 

[Shrek]

yep,its pointed out that if the feds did recognize grizzlies it would affect everything, ranching,grazing,hunting,recreation,mineral extraction,ect.literaly everything that drives the economy there.
It does however,seem that there is a poorly kept secret among the locals that something other than black bears are cruising that range.

This ! I saw manatees in a river that I docked in just about every morning but the warden always said there weren't any. One day I ran into him in town and bought him a beer. He finally admitted they were ther but the official line was no manatees in the St Marks river. They were afraid they would have had to close the oil docks and post the area no wake if they were there. If you see a wolf , grizzly , or wolverine keep it to yourself. The greens would love to get control of the Colorado DOW. Better yet SSS.

 

[dotman]

Good read for sure. I have spent a lot of time in this area and it wouldn't surprise me but I have never seen anything that looked like a grizz. I have seen some crap piles that left me thinking no way a black bear left this but there are some big blackies there.

 

[Bonedalien]

Yea they also say wolves aren't in Colorado too. And a few have been hit on highways if I remember.

http://forums.bowsite.com/tf/regional/thread.cfm?threadid=194003&MESSAGES=19&state=Co

yeah, the one i remember was hit on I-70 on Vail pass.

 

[Sooner]

yeah, the one i remember was hit on I-70 on Vail pass.

I remember that also. There was also a woman in Idaho spirings I think that called in that a wolf or two was attacking her dog one night(think they actually killed it) I can't remember now.

 

[orionthehunter1]

I believe there was a pic of a wolf up by Granby posted on the Dow website a couple of years ago. About the grizz I believe it's possible I will also say that I saw a video a couple of years ago by a friend that lives in Montrose that he took up in the sharktooth mountains between Ridgeway and Durango and I would almost bet my paycheck that it is a grizz walking under his treestand

 

[60x]

I never read the book but it sounds interesting.. This did remind me of a sighting of a grizz in colorado not too long ago. I know the hunters and with thier griz experience I believe them and I am sure that is why they were believed to be credible... I think this is the story

http://wildlife.state.co.us/newsapp/press.asp?pressid=4050

 

[Coveyleader]

I would lean towards Grizzly bears don't exist in CO. That any that guy is stranger than area 51.