The Glacier reporter., 1960-08-11
a MINUTE
WITH MI

For the past two or three years
trail hIkers in the park have been
experiencing serious trouble with
grizzly bears. ard ii can be as
sumcd that this will continue
perhaps with increasing encOunt
ers. as the trails become more
and more populated with hikers
There are two views on :his
problem: One is that our national
park systems we're established
and set up for the preservation
OF their natural beauty and the
abundance of wildlifc inhabitinR
them The other. and one
which has been expressed many
times. is the question OF whether
or not one death caused by the
aclmals justifies their being per
mi;ted 10 live where man has
decided 10 travel. or invade.
We use the word invade" be
Cavse We believe it more cor
rec;Iy fits the explanation of why
man is making and travelling
trails into the wild homeland OF
the grizzly In this respect. the
bear and some races OF men
have a great deal in common
They have been pushed off into
! remote corner Of what is con
Sidcred useless land. uD:il such
time as other beings should de
eide upon its need for eXplOita
ton or novel recreation
We do not believe that one
human life is worth all :he griz
zlies in Glacier Park nor do
we believe that city dudes should
be permitted to 90 exploring in
the griZZly's homeland. The mair
trouble is that most hikers are
city people. and consequently do
not realize is that the grizzly
is one of the largest. most power
ful and meanest of all American
wild animals Chances are the
closest they have ever come to
having contact with a grizzly is
at the movies or via televiSiOn.
That may have been thrilling
while it lasted. but they were
well out of dangers path while
sitting comfortably at home or
holding hands in the cinema.
When these arm chair explorers
get into the park and take Il
the trails. IL is quite a different
story only they fail 20 realize
IL When confronted with a moth
er grizzly and her cubs. they
can't just turn their head or turn
off the TV as a means OF --Jtec
ton. They are faced with the real
thing and are at a loss TO know
what to do then thew usually
do the wrong thing - pix up
n stone or stick n an attempt
10 scare IL. Grizzlies just don
scare, especially a female with
cubs.
So the situation annually be
comes more serious What should
we do. kill OF the grizzlies or
prohibit trail hiking in the park
In either case the forestry sory
ice would have a small war OF
its hands and our congres 5mer |
would be showed under with com
plants,
Probably the most c~si5lc |
thing 20 do would b. to require
all trail mixers 10 sit in on :
gCCd lecture given by al cy
perienced ranger or recog lized
guide then be permit ID tC
make their hike only If a"c2T
panied by a ranger with a hig1
powered rifle just in case.
The Browning Lions Club Ger
tai"ly did a good stroke Of bvsi
ness when they placed picni"
:ables on the Plains Indian Nu
scum grounds. This was a really
useful project and they have been
enjoyed by many thousands Of
tourists this season
This we know. because we are
in a position TO get a bir1's-eye
view of their usPcJI1ess, living
directly across the road from the
museum. Before the tables were
placed there. | never knew Sc
many travellers carried their vi
tamins with them!
We are glad TO see the city
street department has finally
taken action TO fill in the holes
and other bad places on the side
streets. A coating of mixed small
gravel and dirt is being spread
over the bad areas which is a.
considerable improvement
II will, however. take me some
time to get used to making .
tight turn on the variety store
corner. have been swinging
wide for the past four years, prac
ticaIly into Woodrow Browns
ward. in order TO miss the crater
.h~E Aap haan fhnra ever ginrp