Elk Call Draws in a Protective Grizzly, Sparking Vicious B.C. Mauling 🙏

While we continue to slowly inch towards the weekend, let’s all take a minute to grab a coffee or whiskey (no judgement) and get into what this beautiful Tuesday has to offer.

Here's what's worth reading about so far this week:

ANOTHER VICIOUS ATTACK
ELK HUNTER’S CALL DRAWS IN A PROTECTIVE GRIZZLY, SPARKING VICIOUS MAULING IN B.C. WILDERNESS

In what was most certainly a harrowing encounter deep in the wilderness of British Columbia's East Kootenay region, an elk hunter was seriously injured after being attacked by a grizzly bear sow protecting her cubs. The incident, which occurred on October 2nd near Fort Steele, saw the hunter airlifted to hospital after authorities were able to locate him in the densely forested area.

The unnamed hunter was out calling for elk when the grizzly bear, believed to have been drawn by the sounds mimicking distressed prey, charged unexpectedly. Officials from the B.C. Conservation Officer Service (BCCOS) believe the elk calls played a key role in attracting the animal, leading to a defensive response from the mother bear safeguarding her young…

💪 83-Year-Old Wyoming Grandma Bags Elk at Dawn and Packs It Out by Noon. At 83 years old, Neda Herman of Basin, Wyoming, proved age is no barrier to adventure by bagging a cow elk on opening day of the season in the Bighorn Mountains. Accompanied by her son Todd, the duo saddled up horses before dawn, rode an hour into the rugged terrain, and spotted elk just as light broke. Neda steadied her breath and dropped the animal with a single shot, then helped quarter the carcass while fending off curious birds. By noon, they'd hauled the meat uphill, fetched pack mules, loaded up, and ridden out—wrapping the hunt in record time without the need for multi-day camping.

Hunting has been Neda's passion since she was 15, when her father, who was notably disappointed at first by having two daughters instead of a son, taught her the ropes, turning her into the family's "boy." She's since filled tags across Colorado and Wyoming alongside her late husband Nick, children, and even grandson Lane, with whom she recently nabbed a buck antelope. Reflecting on a lifetime of bugling bulls and squeaking calves, Neda cherishes the mountain sounds more than any trophy, and while she flirted with retirement last year, she's already eyeing next season. "If I feel like I do now, sure, I'll go," she said. Her son Todd beams with pride, noting that many men half her age couldn't match her grit.

🐻 Victim Identified and Bear Believed Responsible for Fatal Mauling Killed in Arkansas. In a swift resolution to yesterday’s tragic news, Arkansas authorities confirmed on Monday that local hunters and hounds tracked and fatally shot a male black bear suspected of killing 60-year-old Max Thomas from Springfield, Missouri, at his campsite in the Ozark National Forest. The bear, which matched photos Thomas had sent his family on Tuesday morning showing it near his site at Sam's Throne campground in Newton County, was captured on a trail camera Sunday near the attack location. Authorities noted its size, facial markings, and proximity to the scene as key identifiers. The animal was transported to Little Rock for DNA testing to verify its involvement.

Thomas's body was discovered Thursday by a deputy responding to a welfare check from his son, who hadn't heard from him since the bear photos. Evidence at the scene, including drag marks and signs of a struggle, indicated the attack occurred while Thomas was breaking down camp. The state medical examiner ruled his death an animal mauling, leaving behind a grieving family—described by Newton County Sheriff Glenn Wheeler as a devoted husband and father. Wheeler defended the bear's killing amid some public backlash, stating, "Human life is vastly more important... Our victim was named Max Thomas. He had a family, a soul, and many loved ones." This marks the second fatal bear attack in Arkansas in recent weeks, though such incidents remain exceedingly rare in the state, home to an estimated 5,000 black bears following successful reintroductions decades ago.

🙏 Two More Charged in Brevard County Alligator Poaching Probe. Florida wildlife officials announced charges against two additional suspects in an ongoing alligator poaching investigation, bringing the total identified to four in a case centered on illegal harvests in Brevard County. Wyatt Lowe, 24, and Luke Landry, 25, both from Titusville, face accusations after investigators uncovered photos and videos depicting the men posing with alligators killed outside the legal hunting season. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission stated the evidence emerged from digital forensics tied to earlier searches, highlighting a pattern of unlawful captures and killings using an airboat owned by a previously charged suspect.

The probe kicked off in May when FWC received tips about Snapchat videos showing Landry with poached alligators, prompting a search warrant at his home and leading to interviews that implicated others. Jacob Latreille, 20, of Mims, was the first arrested on September 22 for multiple incidents in April and May, while a warrant remains active for Robert Gage Martin, 28, of Titusville. Poaching alligators without a permit is a third-degree felony in Florida, carrying potential prison time and steep fines. Tips on suspected violations can be reported anonymously via FWC's Wildlife Alert Hotline at 888-404-FWCC or online at MyFWC.com/WildlifeAlert.

🐻 A bear walks up to you while you’re on a sit. What do you do, hotshot? Try and negotiate or shoot the hostage intruder?

I think he was just curious and left without any serious altercation…

Oh, and one more thing…