Grizzly Bear at Wild Iris

The snow is melting. The grass is turning green. The geese have returned... and the bears have woken.

If you come to Wild Iris, you need to be aware that all components of the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem have made appearances on the east side of the Wind River Range. Specifically, last year there was a very healthy, adolescent male grizzly bear (he goes by "Waffles") frequenting Limestone Mountain and the Beaver Creek drainage. He was seen from Wolf Point to Atlantic City, and that puts the Wild Iris and Wild Iris Campground in the very middle of his territory. A few climbers, including Jonathan Siegrist and Micah Rush, got to have a face to face meeting with Waffles and can attest to his size and claw-length.

Last year on a random walk through the Wild Iris Campground we saw garbage sacks being opened by magpies, half eaten Dominos pizzas left on the hoods of cars, and beer bottles spread about in frat house style. This cannot continue. All campers at the Wild Iris Campground need to be bear-aware. Waffles doesn't know the difference between your cooler of food, and his cooler of food. If you get up in the middle of the night to pee and Waffles is in your cooler, you might suffer a very serious ass-whooping.

And keep in mind that there is no reasonable form of "mind your own business" when it comes to other campers. If you see a campsite that is being kept messy, tell them to clean up. When Waffles comes to the campsite, he might kick your ass to protect his new bag of garbage that happens to be in your neighbors campsite.

In short, we all need to keep clean camps and adopt "Bear Country" rules when at the Wild Iris. You might also want to carry some bear spray to the crag. For more updates on this, stay tuned to the B.A.R.F. (Lander Bolt Anchor Replacement Fund) facebook page. Be safe enough.

Sam

how tidy do you suggest keeping things? no food out on tables is a no brainer but what about in your car or tent?

There's tons of info available to anyone visiting bear country about how to deal with food issues. If this bear gets food from you, then you have a hand in its inevitable demise. Shot, that is....