This incident at Big Sky Resort, Montana, is both unusual and remarkable. On December 15, 2023, the ski patrol reported two separate avalanches in closed terrain. Intriguingly, one of these slides appears to have been inadvertently triggered by a goat. Amazingly, this goat was carried the full length of the avalanche, over a distance of 1,000 feet and through rocky terrain. Remarkably, it emerged from this perilous journey unscathed.

The evidence collected by the patrol paints a vivid picture of the event. Goat tracks were seen leading into the crown area of the avalanche and later exiting the debris pile at the bottom. Impressively, there were no signs of injury, such as blood or broken limbs, suggesting the goat was remarkably lucky to escape without harm.

The patrol’s detailed description of the goat’s journey through the avalanche is a testament to the resilience and hardiness of these animals. The fact that the goat managed to travel such a distance and through challenging conditions, only to walk away apparently unharmed, is nothing short of miraculous. This incident also underscores the unpredictable nature of avalanches and the importance of respecting closed areas in mountainous terrain for safety.

“Further investigation of the avalanche yesterday showed goat tracks leading into the crown area of the avalanche. At the debris pile, it was obvious that a goat had taken the full ride in the slide that it triggered. There was a depression in the debris pile where the critter had come to rest at the surface, and obvious hoof prints trailing away from the debris pile, and then upslope for the long walk back up to rejoin the herd. There was no blood, and the tracks looked usual, with no obvious sign of broken leg(s). It is unknown if the goat was wearing an airbag or if it was deployed in the avalanche. It was a significant ride, 1K’ vt., 1⁄4 mile linear, likely of high speed, through 2nd Dictator transition, which was taken down to mostly bare ground.”

– Big Sky Resort patrol

Witnessing wildlife in their untouched environment is genuinely fascinating. Capturing their behaviors undetected offers a unique insight into their world, far beyond what we could see if they were conscious of us observing them. While the concept might seem a bit unusual, it’s an invaluable method to study animal behavior.

The video here showcases an entire year at a beaver dam in Northern Minnesota, close to Voyageurs National Park, through a trail camera. This footage reveals an array of wildlife including wolves, bears, deer, beavers, ducks, foxes, and various bird species. Intriguingly, there’s a moment where a human is spotted crossing the dam in a peculiar way, which adds a touch of humor to the observation. This video is a testament to the wonder of nature and was a delightful watch.

You’ve no doubt heard of scarecrows. You know, the fake people setup around farms to scare away crows? They’re everywhere in today’s world, especially in October, from movies to halloween costumes. They aren’t actually all that scary, and I’m willing to bet most crows don’t really care about them anymore. Put one of these Japanese Robot Wolves in a farm, though, and you’ll give anyone who comes near some serious creeps.

These robot wolves, like scarecrows, were initially designed to keep wildlife away from farms, but, with a recent uptick attacks across Japan, the town of Takikawa has been using these manmade monsters to deter bears.

The look on the robots face is… pure evil. Plus the noises that it makes and the way that it moves, it’s all straight out of my nightmares. I think we should install these things around the United States just to keep people from going where they aren’t supposed to. I think even the most hardcore burglars would be a good bit freaked out if they saw that coming at them.

Below are some more clips of the mechanic monster spooking some wildlife. The robot uses infrared sensors to sense movement, triggered only when it knows there’s something nearby. Then, once it’s triggered, it makes horrific noises, flashes blinding lights, and, of course, moves around to mimic a real wolf.

Related: Photographer Successfully Deploys Bear Spray After Minutes Long Encounter

Image Credit: Daily Watch via YouTube

It might be cute when Yogi Bear eats someone’s picnic, but it is much more terrifying in real life. A black bear crashed a birthday party in Monterrey, Mexico by climbing on a picnic table to eat the dinner spread. Shockingly, the bear did this while a mother and her child were seated at the table. The mom is being hailed a hero for calmly shielding her son from the animal. Here is the footage of the incident:

If you encounter a bear in the wild, here are the actions to take according to the National Park Service:

• Identify yourself by talking calmly so the bear knows you are a human and not a prey animal. Remain still; stand your ground but slowly wave your arms. Help the bear recognize you as a human. It may come closer or stand on its hind legs to get a better look or smell. A standing bear is usually curious, not threatening.
• Stay calm and remember that most bears do not want to attack you; they usually just want to be left alone. Bears may bluff their way out of an encounter by charging and then turning away at the last second. Bears may also react defensively by woofing, yawning, salivating, growling, snapping their jaws, and laying their ears back. Continue to talk to the bear in low tones; this will help you stay calmer, and it won’t be threatening to the bear. A scream or sudden movement may trigger an attack. Never imitate bear sounds or make a high-pitched squeal.
• Pick up small children immediately. Do not make any loud noises or screams—the bear may think it’s the sound of a prey animal. Slowly wave your arms above your head and tell the bear to back off. Do NOT run or make any sudden movements. Do not make any loud noises or screams—the bear may think it’s the sound of a prey animal.
• Hike and travel in groups. Groups of people are usually noisier and smellier than a single person. Therefore, bears often become aware of groups of people at greater distances, and because of their cumulative size, groups are also intimidating to bears.
• Make yourselves look as large as possible (for example, move to higher ground).
• Do NOT allow the bear access to your food. Getting your food will only encourage the bear and make the problem worse for others.
• Do NOT drop your pack as it can provide protection for your back and prevent a bear from accessing your food.
• If the bear is stationary, move away slowly and sideways; this allows you to keep an eye on the bear and avoid tripping. Moving sideways is also non-threatening to bears.
• Do NOT run, but if the bear follows, stop and hold your ground. Bears can run as fast as a racehorse both uphill and down. Like dogs, they will chase fleeing animals.
• Do NOT climb a tree. Both grizzlies and black bears can climb trees.
• Leave the area or take a detour. If this is impossible, wait until the bear moves away. Always leave the bear an escape route.
• Be especially cautious if you see a female with cubs; never place yourself between a mother and her cub, and never attempt to approach them. The chances of an attack escalate greatly if she perceives you as a danger to her cubs.

Photos and Video Courtesy of Associated Press and National Parks Service

It’s elk rut season in the United States, and that means we’ll probably (but hopefully not) start seeing video after video of tourists making incredibly dumb decisions in Estes Park, Colorado.

I don’t think I’d call the people in this video that dumb. It’s never a good idea to approach an elk in your car, especially a bull elk, as they may see it as a threat and attempt to attack (like what nearly happens in this video). These people are definitely too close, but they do stay in their car, and eventually begin backing away slowly when things get dicy.

The real meat of the video is the argument going on inside the car. That’s where the true entertainment is.

“Back up Jack, back up Jack, BACK UP ….. JACK”

“Back up WHERE?”

Since it’s elk rut, a lot of people are headed to Estes Park, Colorado, and that means it’s a great time to brush up on elk safety.

Always keep a safe distance from any wildlife, including elk. Approaching any wildlife within 50 yards (150 feet) can disturb, displace, or piss off wildlife, and is often illegal. If an animal is keeping an eye on you or moving when you move, you’re definitely too close. Always keep your pets on a leash, for their sake, for the wildlife’s sake, and for your own sake. Don’t allow them to bark at, lunge at, or chase the animals, either.

When you do decide to stop and snap some pictures, remember that distance is key! Again, stay at least 50 yards away from the elk. Move your car safely off the road and do not block traffic. Respect private property, as well. Just because an animal wandered onto someone’s land doesn’t mean you can too. Also, don’t imitate elk calls or bugles during rut. That will endanger both you and the elk.

Related: Bozo Thinks Its Okay To Unleash His Rottweiler Near Elk

Image Credit: Kenna Mia via TikTok

“The grizzly bears up in Katmai National Park are so well fed rangers don’t seem particularly intimidated being in the presence of the apex predators. The park actually hosts a “Fattest Bear Contest” every year to determine who has cultivated the most mass.

“This video was recorded outside my cabin at Brooks Lodge in Katmai National Park. The mother bear is 435 Holly. The cub had been in an encounter with a porcupine the week before and had a lot of quills in her paw which caused her to limp.”

What’s rule number one when observing elk in the wild? Keep a safe distance! Parks usually have their own guidelines on what constitutes a safe distance, but you certainly won’t be finding any ranger saying it’s acceptable to go within 50 yards (150 feet) of an elk (it’s illegal to go any closer in many places). Also, don’t approach bull elk, and if you see one on the side of the road, STAY IN YOUR CAR.

Further down the list of how to act safely around elk, you’ll find something telling you to back away if an elk begins to approach. Put the camera away and slowly move in the opposite direction, unless you’re trying to get seriously hurt. If an elk begins to charge at you, you can (and should) run away. Get behind a tree or other solid object so the animal can’t come directly at you.

This video, which appears to have occurred during the rut season for elk, shows a brilliant tourist following none of those safety tips. Stay a safe distance? Nope, I’m going to get right up in the animals face with my phone. Back away cautiously when the animal begins to approach? Nope. I’m going to keep filming while backing away, just to increase those chances of tripping as much as possible. Run when the animal begins to initiate a charge? Of course not! That would ruin my footage!

“Im just here to remind you that Bull Elk are incredibly unpredictable and aggressive at this time of year. Stay in your car and never approach them.” – Kendra Neef

Seriously though, why do people think this is okay? I’d love to walk around the streets of some major city like New York and poll people on proper wildlife viewing tactics. I’d like to think that most people are smart enough to know not to approach the massive animal, but maybe that’s just incredibly wishful thinking…

Related: Alaskan Fisherman Run For Their Lives With Grizzly In Hot Pursuit

Image Credit: Kendra Neef via Instagram

What’s gonna work? Teamwork!

It’s not often that you get a solid clip of multiple predators working together to take down prey. It’s even less often that you get a solid clip of two different types of predators working together to take down prey, but that certainly seems to be what’s going on in this clip from ADF&G Southeast Alaska.

Ignoring the way these two are working together for just a second, it’s pretty crazy just to see how the bear and wolf manage to remain invisible in the eyes of the prey until the very last moment. Beyond that, it’s just crazy to see these two work together.

“Prey and predators collide in this trail camera clip captured by remote camera near Gustavus in Glacier Bay National Park during an ADF&G wolf predation study. Witness the intense moment when prey and predators come face-to-face in this clip!” – ADF&G Southeast Alaska

Acceding to the International Wolf Center, it’s not unheard of to see these two together. Typically, though, it seems that grizzly bears will follow a wolf pack knowing that there may be food at the end of the path. The bears typically scare off the wolves once a carcass is discovered, taking it for themselves.

This clip is a bit different. The bear does the main attack and the wolf goes after the calf. It almost feels like they preplanned this together. Schemed it up before the moose showed up. That’s probably not the case, unfortunately. It is a pretty unsettling idea that a bear and wolf could be working together out there. It certainly wouldn’t bode well for hikers and hunters.

Related: Mountain Goats Have Killed 3 Dogs At Popular Utah Hiking Destination In 1 Month

It’s a bit of a bizarre sight, and can certainly be a bit unsettling, but these people aren’t worried about men of the woods climbing under their cars to steal catalytic converters. Instead, they’re trying to keep mischievous critters, like porcupine and marmots, from chewing on the wires, fuel lines, and brake lines underneath their vehicles.

If you dig around a bit on google, you’ll find plenty of forums where people are saying that it’s not an uncommon thing to do. One Redditor, u/hiacbanks, inquired about this subject several years ago after seeing a blog post on the subject.

The comments, though, again, aren’t official in any way, agree with the importance. Redditor u/sparrowxc claims that some trail heads in Canada will actually provide chicken wire at the entrance. The question was also asked over on Mountain Project over eight years ago, with commenters responding in a multitude of different ways.

“There is a huge problem of marmots chewing on cars coolant hoses in the Mineral King area of Sequoia National Park. My favorite story is the one where a guy drove from Mineral King to LA and then found a marmot still alive under his hood. That’d be a 5 hr drive/300+ miles ! Note: it’s only a problem in early summer. May & June. By July they move to higher ground and stop chewing.” – Chad Namolik on Mountain Project

NPS Says No Chicken Wire

Unfortunately for the chicken wire advocates, many marmots have learned how to get through or around the wiring, so it’s no longer an advised technique. Who, you may ask, is my source on this? Why, the National Park Service, of course. Instead, in major marmot territory, the NPS recommends driving over a tarp and wrapping it around your entire vehicle. This will protect both your property and the animals.

Additionally, the NPS recommends cleaning your car before heading into marmot territory, checking for possible damage when returning to your vehicle, looking under the hood for marmot activity, turning the key to just on before fully starting the engine to ensure all of the warning lights come on, and listening for unusual sounds while starting the engine.

Related: Mischievous Marmots Use Exhausted Hiker As Salt Lick

Image Credit: Nic via Instagram

A series of videos posted to Facebook last week show a grizzly bear brutally mauling and tearing apart a black bear on the side of a road.

While it’s certainly not the most common site to behold, it’s not unheard of. Grizzly bears will eat whatever they need to survive. Sometimes that’s plants, sometimes that’s bugs, sometimes that’s fish, and sometimes it’s other bears. Being able to catch it on camera, however, is a pretty rare occasion.

As a warning, this video does show a black bear actively being killed, so it’s pretty graphic. If you’ve got a weak stomach, don’t want to see an animal be killed, or are about to show this clip to a young child, don’t watch this video.

It’s definitely a bit upsetting to see stuff like this, but it is just the way life in the wild works. Animals are hunted and killed by apex predators every day, including, potentially, the grizzly in this video. But it is still pretty sad to watch.

I feel the worst for the kid in the background. The “poor bear” is filled with despair, and you can tell that kid just wants to get out of there. That said, it’s a pretty cool sight to see in person, and I’m not shocked that the adults in the vehicle had a hard time tearing their eyes away from it.

The comments on videos like these are always a blast to read. Someone always manages to say something like: “why are you filming when you could be saving the bear?” I’ll let you do some digging for those comments yourself, but I promise they’re in there. What is the person behind the camera going to do? Get in there and fight for the black bear? Besides, interrupting anything like this is very anti-leave no trace, and we don’t support that one bit.

Related: Yellowstone Tourists Sit WAY Too Close To Bison Battle

Image Credit: Susan Griffith via Facebook