WHALES of Teton Valley • Entered by Liz McCane on February 1, 2025
Grizzly Confidential
January 30, 2025
Participants and Hours
| Pre Planning hours | |
| Post Admin hours | |
| Activity Hours | 1.5 |
| Participants | 5 |
| Total Hours | 7.5 |
Key Issue: Wildlife Protection
Activity Type: Education & Outreach (tabling, films & lectures, regional B-walks/works)
Key Partners: Seniors West of the Tetons; Teton Valley Bear Wise
Short Description of Activity
Teton Valley Bear Wise is a new, local nonprofit dedicated to educating the public about bears, and coexisting with them. They hosted Kevin Grange, local author of “Grizzly Confidential: An Astounding Journey Into the Secret Life of North America’s Most Fearsome Predator” Grange, a former National Park Ranger, has been all over the western US talking to bear managers, attack survivors, scientists and activists. He described bear ecology and gave tips for living and recreating in Grizzly Bear country.
Reflection/Evaluation
I learned that a small air horn can be an effective and easily activated precursor to using bear spray when in proximity to a Grizzly. I wish Grange had spent more time on current and proposed bear management decisions. I asked him to comment, which he did, briefly, but this was not his focus. I was pleased to meet one of the founders of Teton Valley Bear Wise, and spoke to him about scheduling a bear spray training event for the WHALES next summer.