Is hiking in bear country too risky? Wildlife photography in Jackson Hole
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- Опубліковано 21 сер 2024
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After watching your channel for several years now (purchased your amazing book as well), I find your approach to wildlife photography and nature to be incredibly respectful and sensitive. The other way to describe your approach is authentic and genuine. Your observation of being in bear country hiking alone is exactly as you described it - be careful, observe your surroundings, make good choices and enjoy the opportunity to explore nature. Photography aside, which is top notch, you’re living the dream getting to do what you do everyday. You are blessed, sir.
Thank you for your "ramble" about black bears. After working and recreating in wild country for well over 50 years, I've probably encountered between 200 and 250 black bears, including females with cubs, and only had two that had me concerned. It's amazing how many people are paranoid about bears and never express any fears of the things they should worry about -- traffic accidents on the way to anywhere; falling limbs; tick-borne diseases; slip, trips and falls that may leave them helpless in the forest; etc.;etc.; etc.
I'm not that scared of encountering a wild bear while just walking in the day through a forest, but I will be sleeping a couple nights in the romanian forests and I am getting paranoid about a bear coming into our camp by smelling food. We will of course use drybags, we will not be cooking anything, will not be making campfires, but still after camping only in Poland where the scariest thing to approach you is a fox I am getting a bit scared.
Keep your settings ready. Very useful reminder. Most important point of this video. Thank you.
Great video as always Steve !!!
We came across several black bears in West Texas that were in the oak trees right on the edge of the trail. They were so fixated on eating acorns that they were pretty unconcerned about our presence, even though we were within a hundred feet.
My wife and I are both photographers living in the eastern foothills of the Wind Rivers. We enjoy watching you since we spend so much time in the Tetons and Yellowstone. I'm not usually worried if I see a bear and am able to maintain a 100 yards separation. My concern is more in surprising a female with cubs or stumbling on a kill. I believe the inherit danger of being a wildlife/landscape photographer in areas like this is that in order to capture these scenes we do just about everything counter to being safe in grizzly country - moving quietly, often off trail, becoming super focused on what we're shooting, and sometimes being alone. There is always some risk in being in the backcountry which you seem to be well aware. Being alone is an added risk that you choose to take. And then there are considerations for bison, moose, and elk which together cause more injuries. 🤔 Take care and keep putting out your wonderful videos!
Always great to see you out and about Steve! I’ll head over to your website right now.
I lived in northern Minnesota for a while and hiked alone most weekends. There were bears and wolves in the woods and no one feared them to any great degree. I think you are taking the proper precautions and using common sense. The worst of my interactions with nature was tick-borne illness. I was bitten as a child long before anyone knew about Lyme. The disease stayed dormant until I was in my 50's. It's been a ten year journey of recovery. My advice would be to worry about the little things more than the big things. Be aware of these diseases and deal with them as soon as possible.
Glad yur back… needed my daily fix of yur VLOG… Following you for some time being envious! Thank you.
we don't have a lot of bears around here but enough that I've encountered them a few times. Never had one get aggressive with me. Give them their space, let them go about the business of doing bear stuff and don't do anything that may make you look like a threat. Pretty simples stuff. It is the 2 legged creatures that concern me a whole lot more than any of the 4 legged ones.
Wow, thsi is simply art! You are amazing photographer and creator my friend! 🔥🔥
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With wildlife, practical knowledge, experience ans general awareness is everything. Over here in Wales we don't have any potentially dangerous animals but al those attributes you mention are equally important to allow us to get close enough to photograph wildlife without putting it under pressure.
Great video.
Best wishes.
Hi Steve, Always look forward to your videos, great content! Thanks again for sharing...
Another great video Steve. I think your attitude and approach to the situation is right on. Don't pay any attention to keyboard cowboys. They don't live in the real world. Thanks again and keep up the great work!
For me, going downtown after dark is risky, in comparison. Great Fall video,Steve. Thanks for sharing it.👍👍
There’s probably a greater risk driving up and down 89!!
I have always respected you for your respect of the environment, the inhabitants of it and your love of life!!
Thank you for the video, just the pick me up while sick. The bear reminded me of the one we saw last year on a hike to Inspiration Point. Glad business is going good for you! Congrats on the last second owl pic, it is another great photo!
I was in Tetons mid October (we chatted about that in an email). I photographed one of Blondie's daughters off Pilgram Creek late one afternoon and again the following morning in a different location. Beautiful animal. I felt safe but anxious as she approaches us wanting to cross the road in the afternoon. She was digging for roots and insects. The following morning, she was digging in a different spot and again crossed the road in front of us. This time I was much more at ease as she wandered nearer, so much so that some wildlife management volunteers intervened and asked me to step back.
Later that day, I drove to Moose Wilson Road and stopped at the pond. I ventured down the trail and started chatting with this young Canadian fellow. I was asking if he knew about the water feature below us. As I was walking towards the edge of the bank, this cinnamon sow and her cub appeared out of nowhere right in front of us on their way to the same type berry tree your bear was at. She and her cub too paid us little attention and proceeded to chow down on the berries. A small crowd had gathered with us from hiking back from the trail. The sow crossed the trail in front of us and went to the power pole and stood up on her rear legs and scratched her back for a few minutes. She then pooped in the bush and went back to the berries. She and her cub finally moved off back down the bank as we walked away.
I agree that awareness, and common sense play a big part in woodland safety in bear country. Sure there are risks, and risk management is a keen part of bear safety. Being alone is risky, but as you stated, it's all bear country there. Great video as always. Thanks for sharing your cinnamon with us! -Bud
How was that black bear a gentle with those berry branches 😍 Amazing video Steve 🥂
Everything Steve said about bear safety is accurate. Absolutely nothing wrong with what he is doing photographing black bears. I worked Grizzly Bear Management 2021-22 in the Grand Tetons NP & Bridger-Teton NF and also shot wildlife photography. Looking forward to returning to the Jackson hole area in 2023 to shoot more photography. Due to a conflict of interest with my UA-cam channel and photography I won't be working bear mgmt anymore. In regards to GGOs I found another one on the Hwy earlier this season which had a radio transmitter on it. Gave it to the Raptor center. Apparently the X-rays shows it was a result of a vehicle strike. Total bummer! Anyways, really like this channel, it was the reason why I ended up spending a couple years working and playing around GTNP 2020-2022. Gunner
Great video Steve, I really enjoyed it! Some interesting facts about black bears and how to be safe on their neck of the woods. The owl image was fantastic. Thanks for sharing!😊
While it wasn't good for photos, I really enjoyed seeing the bear eating berries. Can't recall seeing that before. Good chat about being in the woods for those that don't know. I think I know why some vloggers keep bear spray on a shoulder strap in vlogging frame...
Love the owl photo!
Great video!
Thanks Steve, I needed that info on bears. I moved to New Mexico and love trapesing around in the woods. Florida was big eastern Dimond backs and gators. there is so much more in the west to get you in trouble. So be it. I moved here for the open country and wildlife and will be out and about as much as possible enjoying and photographing everything. Thanks for another great video.
My wife and I have come across many black bears over the years, and none of them acted aggressive in any way. Areas that don't see as much human activity those bears tend to take off and just avoid humans. Areas where bears see people more often tend to just ignore people and do their thing. We've been a couple feet from mom and cubs (accidently, they popped out of dense brush) and they just walked right past like it was no big deal. We've had other encounters with mom and cubs where cubs tend to tree themselves and mom runs off until we move on. Grizzlies are a different story though.
Amazing and stay safe. Ian (UK)
Black bears are very timid, secretive and not interested in people. They generally run at the first sign of humans. I respect your knowledge of local wildlife and situational awareness. Great video!
Another great video Steve, thanks again for making us some excellent content and being yourself!
👍
I agree with your bear thoughts on both grizzlies and blacks. You are correct about all the other risks out there that are as or more dangerous than black bears. Grizzlies make me head the other direction and cougars just plain scare me.
It's nice to see you out and about enjoying your Z9. I just got mine the other day. I really like the raw files out of it. You were one of the people that helped me make the decision to hop from Canon to Nikon. I almost switched to Sony, but didn't like the ergos. I have always liked the underdog anyway, although it is a huge upgrade from what I had. Now I have to auction off both of my kidneys to afford one of the new prime lenses with the built in teleconverter, ha ha.
Stunning Great Gray Owl capture. It certainly pays to be setup/prepared for sudden action. In terms of ethics & respect, I try to give my subjects as much distance as I can allow. I've mostly shot a 500mm lens on a crop sensor camera for the last few years. That's something like 10 x to *15 x magnification (depending on if you factor in crop). Great for most birds, but It can sometimes be too much reach for larger mammals (like Elk) just off the road. I happened upon a spotted owl perched directly above a trail one evening a couple weeks ago. The 500mm was not the right choice for early evening forest shots, but it's what I had. It made for a high ISO situation, but I had to give the Owl plenty of space for framing/composition. The thing I hate about carrying a long lens is I become a beacon for casual hikers and dog walkers who have no problem with getting less than a body length from wild animals to get their cell phone shot. Chances are, they may not have even noticed the owl directly above them had I not been there pointing my lens. Yes, Spotted Owls in my experience are pretty chill customers & very nocturnal, so it didn't flush. Still, I hate being lumped in as part of the photography ethics problem with every cell phone user. No doubt you've probably seen it all in Yellowstone. Sorry for the negativity. End rant.
Yep. It’s a part of wildlife photography to find ways to deal with other people for sure.
As someone from Indiana, who only has to worry about bumping into a skunk or sexually frustrated buck during rut, I found myself initially way to comfortable in the dark till I saw some signs. Not scat, literal signs that warned of Grizzly activity. I'm not too proud to say that after that my Milky Way shots were made with my tripod on the hood of my Suburban with me standing in the sunroof hole. 🤣 I'd love to do some wildlife photography out there sometime though.
I think people who don't live around bears see them as a bigger threat than they actually are. My first introduction was in Canada, where I noticed that the locals didn't seem to think grizzlies were that big of a deal. I rented a mountain bike, and the lady at the bike shop just casually says, "we yell a lot when riding, because the bears come close." Oh, okay! Haha! Of course there's some risk of an attack, but for the most part if you give them space (especially momma & her cubs), they'll leave you alone. I'm more worried mountain biking in bear country, because I'm moving so fast, it'd be easier to sneak up on one.
If I would be a baer, I would be hunting for to fast riding and yelling bikies they make to much trubble in my forest.😋
I'm an amatuer photographer and just moved back to Florida after living 20 years next door to Glacier National Park. I agree with your narrative roughly between the 8-11minute mark. I spent a lot of time hiking in both black and grizzly country---alone. Bottom line for me is the same as Steve's narrative.
In Katmai, my guide carried road flares instead of bear spray. Black bears kill way more people than brown bears, so I don’t take any encounter lightly. To walk among bears is to know humility! Love your videos.
I always enjoy your vlogs about owls!
Excellent video as always Steve 👍
Thanks for clearing up the safety aspect for us. There is no need to worry though, I spend all the time watching your videos looking over your shoulder. I’m always worried sick but I’ve got your back 😂😂 You get like that when you’re from the UK 😁😁
Thanks buddy, I appreciate the extra set of eyes 👀👍!
Might I suggest a portable electric bear fence where you set up or camp. 2.4 lbs for so much peace of mind.
Steve, I always look forward to your videos. You have the perfect personality! I've often wondered how you stay safe both around wildlife and out hiking in the Tetons. I keep thinking how does he not get lost. Must be good cell service. lol Keep creating great content. One day I will get out there and hit you up for a workshop!
I'd worry that the black bear climbed the tree to avoid a grizzly!
Thank you for tagging this video in my last comment. I understand everything you had said in this video and it makes so much sense. If I had someone like you to go out into the woods like that then yea totally would probably down for it but not by myself lol. I'll just keep being a chicken you know what lol. But maybe one day.
Great video Steve. People who don't live here don't get that everywhere is bear country. I've had grizzlies in my own driveway.
Usually, the people saying you're crazy for being around bears are those that don't spend enough time in the woods to know better. Usually hunter types. Even worse with regards to cougars.
Even more dangerous are crazy humans!:) Nice video as always!
Probably more risky driving to these spots than actually being out there provided you have awareness, which you obviously do!
Great video Steve the only bears we have to worry about are koalas lol would love the experience of visiting the Tetons just wondering what monopod setup you were using cheers John
There is always a “risk” but not as bad as people think. I have encountered bears in the woods. Last month we were going out to shoot. I was talking to a friend and I told him, honestly I’m not “afraid” of bears. They pretty much leave you alone and will probably smell you first and avoid you. Don’t take me wrong, if I’m hiking down the trail, turn a corner and bump into a bear, I’ll probably need new underwear at best. The thing is, as you know, they pretty much leave you alone. Don’t walk up to them and try to pet them, that won’t end well. Just give them their distance, don’t mess with them and they will probably leave you alone.
Hey Steve, I really enjoy all your photos and video of wildlife. My absolute favorite is of the snowy owl’s. Please be safe!!! Question: are you thinking of investing in Nikon new 600mm F/4 z mount lens? Looking forward to your next video.
I might test it out for UA-cam but I love my 400…
Please don’t fall and break your ankle! When we were at the park in late September, we talked to a fellow photographer who had just seen a cinnamon colored black bear just west of the visitor center.
I’m happy your busy with clients! Wish I could be one of those lucky people. But then, I was one of those lucky people a few years back!
Yep, we had a goood day together 👍
If you leave wildlife alone, they leave you alone. If you are aware of your surroundings, and do not threaten or surprise the wildlife, they leave you alone. The woods are not scary; going to WalMart is very scary.
Just as many if not more risks in the city.
Based on the size of that pile, it was either a very large bear or it has a real lower GI problem 😅. It isn’t the potential bear in the wild I worry about but the one at the corner of my house looking through the neighbors’ trash can. As usual, thoroughly enjoyed your video.
What was the focal length of the lens that you dug out of the bear scat, Steve? (heh, heh!!) Stay safe, my friend. Back in the Fall of 2019, I was photographing a landscape when I heard a familiar voice. I can assure your viewers that you are the same laid back guy in person as the fellow who takes us through your videos.
Hi steve. If you want stormy weather come to scotland. Best regards james in bonnie rainy scotland.
I was way more worried when you were very close to rutting bull moose a year or two ago. You know what you're doing.
EDIT: just saw the owl shot. 👍🏿
A little off topic, however, I am curious if you’ll add the 600mm with TC to the bag and if yes, do you think your 400 will stay in the bag? I struggle with my battle of low light vs reach and curious what your thoughts are…
I have the same dilemma, I now have the Z400tc 2.8 but I'm constantly in doubt between the 600 and 400. I still think the 400 is a bit more versatile.
I’m definitely keeping the 400…
Hey Steve very informative and awesome video once again. Great advice. I have this question that I always wondered. It might be a very very dumb question, but, here goes the question. How do you not get lost in the woods? I really don't see any pathways in particular so I always wondered about how you find your way around the woods. Is it the familiarity of the forest? Do you use GPS?
Thanks for all the videos.
I worry way more about the drivers in the park than the bears.
So so true👍
My neighbors cat hurts more ppl than black bears around here and they don't even have a cat! We get both blacks and grizzlies in and around town and no issues. A couple of years ago on my bday we headed up towards the east Yellowstone entrance when we pulled over so I could make a tree run. Was a big pine tree there so I ran around it (6am mind you), dropped my britches and proceeded to drop a deuce. After a minute I looked up to see a grizzly walking right up to me (heavy cover, only a few paths), got so close we coulda high 5'd. OF course I didn't bring camera so did a very graceful ballet maneuver to get back to the truck to get camera lol. Luckily, I found him and squeezed off about 5 shots before he was back in the darkness and cover. With grizzlies it's about knowledge and awareness, especially around grizzlies that aren't used to seeing 58,976 ppl a day like they do in Jackson. Gotta watch the wind and cover especially. People don't realize that grizzlies (especially around people) are much more active at night and will snooze during the day. Imo, this can lead to the worst kind of attack. If that bear is bedded down in tall grass and you're not paying attention and walk right up on him he's going to explode on your *ss because he thinks you're attacking him/her. I consider this the worst because you will instantly realize how fast a grizzly is and you may (if you're lucky) have maybe 1 second to get your spray or weapon... good luck with that! Other surprise encounters like the wind blowing wrong direction so they can't smell you and wind or rushing water covering your noise and you surprise each other and same deal, they think you're attacking them. I think every attack this side of the mountains this year but 1 has happened this way. Next worst is not realizing that you're getting to close to a bear claimed kill (again the wind is evening the game out) and they will guard food like their lives depends on it, because it does. so, if I'm going to be attacked crazily I'd rather it be by a sow with cubs, especially 1st yr cubs. why you say? She definitely going to put you on the ground and bite you a few times but play dead and usually she'll be gone faster than the other ways because she doesn't want to leave the cubs unattended to long especially if there's other male grizzlies around. But the big thing people don't think about is that if they attack they aren't trying to kill you (unless it's a rogue bear), they are just trying to take away what they perceive as you weapon and that's your mouth. Ever notice how attack victims skin is pulled off their face? They just want the "threat" to be over. Now, a black bear is different here, if you play dead with a black bear it'll just start to eat you... alive.... and they'll start by going after the nutritious parts, aka your guts. But chances are that a grizzly will simply hear or smell you and just get out of your way until you're gone and you'll never know they where just right there. And most importantly, we need to realize they aren't mindless killers, actually, it's amazing how incredibly tolerant of us that they are, I mean 1 good sized boar in the "Jackson zoo" during tourist season could kill thousands of ppl a day without breaking a sweat. 1 last thing... if you're one of those ppl that's always bitching about "you don't look like you're a 100 3rds away!!!!", not to be mean but... shove it! lol. What they fail to tell you is that you definitely aren't safe at 100 yards or 200 yards or 300 yards... think about a bear jam and all the ppl out with camera gear, carrying kids or whatever and you're 20-50 3rds from your car. Well,if that grizzly is having a bad day and decided to charge (they've been documented to charge from over 2 miles away fyi) they'll cover 100 yards in 4-5 seconds, how far do you think you're going get? Personally, I'd rather have them close so I can read them but then again I have several veterinary degrees and lots of training in animal behavior so that's just me. If a grizzly wants you, he's gunna get you! They can easily rip your car open, your house open, etc... so follow their (the bears) rules. sorry, I was bored.. and fyi~ we nicknamed the bear that walked up on me "pooh bear" and I stop by that spot now and then and he's always around... less than 20' from the road is where he beds and nobody knows
Your risk increases the more you expose yourself to wilderness occasional hikes not so much but the odds increase to having interactions with wildlife but that’s part of wildlife photography is catching moments an hopefully they don’t catch you lol
Hey I haven’t been on your channel for awhile. Great thoughts. I went up Coal creek on the other side probably around the same time and I was talking about the same thing. Are you liking that camera and lens setup you have?
Yes I love love love my current gear👍
there is no reason to be afraid of wildlife, in almost all circumstances. not all, but almost all. to be honest, I'm generally much more fearful of humanity than wildlands and wildlife. the societal narrative has unfortunately been flipped on this
When doing workshops on location, is it harder to find wildlife because of more people involved?
If you see a black bear, is there a good chance that there are no grizzlies are around since the black bear would probably flee if it smells/sees a grizzly?
Not really, they often share territories.
Hot yoga is much more dangerous than that black bear! There’s always risk, on the coast there are sneaker waves which could kill you just as easily as that bear
I've always found it humorous when people get overly concerned about bear country. I've found it far more dangerous to roam any of our inner cities...........
How do you like the wimberley monopod head vs say the leofoto vh-10s or flexshooter or bh-55?
Most these comments are true. But remember this changes from territory to territory, Black-bears in the Adirondacks are so used to relating people means food stuffs to pilfer!! And then that one rouge aggressive bear will not take no for an answer, That is a bad situation, I got mauled in my tent in upper Newyork state campground. All the ranger could figure is the spilled ketchup, and sauces on my clothing. He tore into my tent and took a byte out of my leg. There are NO rules to Mother nature and too often that is OFF THE TABLE in these debates. Now here in The smokie mountains [I moved] they run away most the time. But ten more years of these idiots feeding the bears from the window of their cars and attacks such as mine will happen. Bears losing their fear of people actually can be a bad thing, that changes from place to place species to species. Complacency can give way to the opportunity to meet that "Rouge" bear. And god forbid If you run up on one with rabies, so far I have not heard of that happening. Google search "attacked by black bear" and make your own judgments. Where the attack happened and surroundings change these things allot.
I understand why you are extra cautious, having been attacked by a bear. I’m glad you survived and hope I never suffer a similar situation.
Oh I wish you found a cuddly mountain lion to take photos of, not the aggressive one the photogenic one. 🤞
We routinely have black bears wander through our property here in north Florida. I have never seen anything in any of your videos that would cause concern. When I am trying to shoot raptors, or owls, I have occasionally thought "Would Steve think I am too close?" ;-) Just out of curiosity, what kind of bush were the red ones the bear was eating the berries from?
Hawthorn berry bush
@@SteveMattheis Thank you!
i will take chances with the bear over most major city streets
As for the huge pile of bear scat, it triggered the classic scene from City Slickers.
Jack Palance to Billy Crystal: “Boy …. I crap bigger than you.”
As for risk, I hiked a short, sketchy 1k trail down a 100 foot gorge to shoot a waterfall on Vancouver Island yesterday. Alone, over wet maple leaves and mossy rocks. One cautious step at a time. There’s bears around here but that was the last risk that concerned me.
Thanks from Marianne and I for the great workshop, Steve.
Thanks guys!
Im sure a bear can run fastet than you. James.
I just saw a bear up on Mount Lemmon in Tucson. He looked at me and ran He was small. Oh well.😊 but I hope you’re packing bro because walking around out there with bears isn’t good you never know.
What do you do to mitigate the ticks?
Just the standard stuff and luckily we don’t have too many here.
🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🇱🇰🇱🇰🇱🇰🇱🇰🇱🇰
What kind of monopod do you use?
👍💪💚🌹
My initial reply to this question is "No, not too risky as long as you're carrying an adequate gun." Now some qualifiers - I'm not even really a "gun guy", I'm not a hunter, and my thought is not to shoot the animal - just scare away IF distance becomes a danger. Obviously anything beyond that is a last, last resort. Mainly it's the old saying - it's better to have and not need, than to need and not have. Certainly in bear country (brown specifically). I always respect the power of nature, and how vulnerable we are as humans to powerful predators.
I believe statistically bear spray is way more effective than a firearm. Even more so if you aren’t a highly skilled and practiced shooter.
Well, you are taking good precaution with bear spray which would work for other animals as well so you are good there. Your problem is you are alone. What if you fall and break a leg or fall on a sharp branch and are impaled, not enough to kill you but to bleed out. There is the Midget Faded and Prairie rattle snake (perhaps not in Jackson hole but other part of Wyoming). Also there are incidences of bear attacking in Jackson hole. One man shot himself fighting off a bear there. What if you have a heart attack hiking, No one there means no chance of surviving. Just better not to go by yourself. But you are an adult, and can do what you want. I live in Colorado, more of the mountains are covered by cell service and there is always satellite phones. Hopefully you take a satellite phone with you which would minimize risk quite well.
Yes we have pretty good cell coverage. And I carry a satellite communicator. No poisonous snakes snakes here either…
@@SteveMattheis Well that should silence your critics. You are going beyond what most single hikers do as far as safety and risk management. In reality 200 years ago people had to go out buy themselves to kill or gather food or firewood. Most of them made it an everyday practice.