Nightmare in the Big Horn Mountains: Surviving a Persistent Black Bear Attack
Imagine the silence of a starry night in the wilderness, suddenly shattered by the sound of fabric ripping and the heavy breathing of a predator. This was the harrowing reality for Maggie Bassett and Shonna Dehl during a camping trip in Wyoming’s Big Horn Mountains on July 5.
A Relentless Intruder
What began as a peaceful getaway quickly turned into a fight for survival. According to the victims, a black bear became obsessed with entering their tents. Despite their desperate attempts to scare the animal away—including screaming and firing gunshots—the bear remained unfazed.
“It didn’t even blink,” Bassett recalled. “It just kind of circled around and came back at me from a different angle.”
The persistence of the animal was terrifying. It took multiple gunshots before the bear finally retreated, providing a narrow window of opportunity for the two women to flee to their vehicle. For several hours, they remained trapped inside their car, honking the horn to keep the predator at bay before finally escaping to a nearby family cabin.
The Danger of ‘Food-Conditioned’ Bears
One of the most alarming aspects of this story is that Bassett and Dehl did everything right. They followed all standard bear-safety protocols, including using bear-resistant containers and maintaining a pristine campsite.
So, why did the black bear attacks occur despite these precautions? The answer lies in a phenomenon known as food-conditioning.
According to the National Park Service (NPS), food-conditioned bears are those that have learned to associate humans and their campsites with high-calorie rewards. Once a bear loses its natural fear of humans, it becomes significantly more aggressive and persistent in seeking out unnatural food sources, regardless of the safety measures in place.
Can You Really Do Everything Right and Still Be Attacked?
The short answer is yes. While following safety rules drastically reduces your risk, a determined, food-conditioned bear can still be a threat. However, this is not a reason to stop exploring the great outdoors; rather, it is a reason to be even more prepared.
Essential Tips for Your Next Trip to Bear Country:
- Store Food Securely: Use certified bear-resistant canisters or hang your food far from your sleeping area.
- Carry Protection: Always have bear spray easily accessible (not buried in your pack) and consider carrying a firearm if you are trained.
- Stay Vigilant: Be aware of “bear signs” such as fresh tracks, scat, or scratched trees.
- Make Noise: Let bears know you are there to avoid surprising them.
The Wyoming Game and Fish Department has been notified of this specific incident and plans to trap and relocate the bear to prevent further dangerous encounters. For now, this serves as a stark reminder that nature is unpredictable, and vigilance is the key to survival.
