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Welcome back to Scary Bear Attacks! Today’s episode takes us to the Elephant Back Loop Trail in Yellowstone National Park. The park is seated on the side of the world’s largest batholith volcano which provides the energy for the geysers and geothermal phenomenon there. This area is around 8000 feet high in elevation and is thickly timbered rolling hills overlooking Yellowstone Lake. The forests primarily of lodge pole pine are 150 to 300 years old and are described by the Yellowstone Board of Review Report regarding this episode as gray and brown in color. Given the age of the forest and the amount of duff accumulated on the forest floor, many forms of edible fungi grow on the ground and deadfall trees. These fungi provide a valuable source of nutrients to animals in the area and perform a vital function in the ecosystem. Animals like elk, deer, and moose will often dine on mushrooms whenever they can find them. Of the predators in this area only bobcats and cougars are not known to consume mushrooms, but wolves, coyotes as well as black bears and grizzly bears frequently seek them out as fare.
Elephant Back Trail climbs 800 feet over its duration which is only one and a half miles long. About 8-tenths of a mile up the trail is a fork. The left route leads directly to the overlook, which grants visitors a stunning view of the lake. The right route winds a bit more but ends at the same overlook. As far as trails go, it isn’t much of a trail as it only takes visitors an hour or two to complete the loop. But if danger was measured by distance, it may be one of the most dangerous trails in the world.
On Thursday, August 6th, 2015, 63-year-old Lance Crosby was performing his duties at Lake Medical Clinic, where he had worked at for the past five years. He was a native of Billings Montana and an avid hiker and outdoorsman.
Just before lunchtime, Lance’s co-workers reported seeing him at the medical center. He had recently injured his ankle and was in the habit of going out for walks near the center to help it heal and rehabilitate it. Lance enjoyed taking shortcuts through trail circuits just to wander through the stands of trees. On this day he took no firearm, nor bear spray with him. His coworkers watched Lance walk off along the road toward Elephant Back Trail and returned to their duties.
On August 7th, Lance was expected at the center for work but didn’t show up at the start of his 8 AM shift. The staff thought this was peculiar as he wasn’t the kind of person to be late and definitely would have called in had he come down with an illness. By 9 AM the staff at the medical center called in and reported Lance missing.
Park rangers immediately formed a search team and foot search teams began searching on Yellowstone Lake Beach, Natural Bridge Road, and Elephant Back Trail. During the search on Elephant Back trail a ranger discovered a carnivore food cache with a boot protruding ominously from beneath it. The ranger immediately backed out of the area and all hikers were ordered to leave to preserve safety and evidence.
An investigative team comprised of law enforcement officers, biologists, and medical professionals was formed. After the report of the carnivore food cache had reached the team, they prepared for a body recovery.
About a half mile northeast of the trail rangers heard a cub bark three or four times as they approached. They observed a sow with dark brown legs and a light brown rump running away from the cache site.
Once at the site, the investigative team began gathering evidence. They could see grizzly tracks from one sow and at least one cub near Lance’s body. The bears had partially eaten his remains and then covered him in dirt and pine needles indicating they were planning on returning to eat the rest of him after digesting the portions they had already consumed.
Lance’s remains were removed by helicopter and analyzed by forensic experts. They found deep bruising and puncture wounds on his arms, hands, head, face, shoulders, and upper back indicating that he was alive when these wounds were inflicted. He had attempted to defend himself during the bear attack based on the location of the wounds on his arms and hands. The puncture wounds on Lance’s corpse were measured for comparison with the teeth of any bear thought to have been involved. After further analysis, Lance was found to have died from blunt force trauma to the area near his brain stem. He had been struck by the sow’s paws with enough force that the blows had caused his death.
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Native to Montanna..what was he thinking? So sad 😢.
Thanks, Atticus! You outdid yourself on this episode-patreon members get pics AND the detailed sketch/report of the attack scene. Sad Story!
My useual go to is an always having arms in the wilderness. But this might have been such an explosive face to face encounter. I’m not anything he could have done would have mattered. But I also don’t hunt alone because anything could happen
Take a gun at your side, Dummy! 9:17
First time I heard of this trail and I’ve been to Yellowstone 4 times the past couple of years. The park is so massive that you always find something new. I almost hiked right into a sow with 2 cubs last year on the Pelican Valley Trail. The trail starts in a open meadow that leads into the forest. We brought binoculars and were scanning the area for wildlife while hiking up the trail when I spotted them at the tree line about 75 yards to the right of the trail. As soon as we got to the part where the forest started I noticed their direction was going right towards the trail down a ways. Now it was a warm(low 60’s)early October day in the afternoon with a little bit of a breeze. As we stood at the tree line you could hear those chipmunks/squirrels or whatever they are chirping in the distance. From hiking earlier in the week we noticed that those little rodents would start chirping at us in the trees while we walked by so we knew the bears were out there somewhere so we headed back to the parking lot. It was a eerie feeling standing there at that tree line on that beautiful fall day hearing those rodents chirping off in the distance. You could tell the direction the bears were going because the direction of their chirps would change. Definitely glad we brought binoculars on that hike…
7:00 bear moms are incredible. 🐻 raaaaaawwwr
The bear had cubs to feed; she was thin. She killed to eat not just to kill. He knew there were bears there. I do not think the sow should have been euthanized.
My bear spray identifies as a glock 20.
I'm telling you people don't have no education about wildlife not long ago people been getting stomped by Buffalo you don't mess with wildlife the city people are not educated it is an outrage shame
I think the bear was hungry and needed to feed her cubs , free food walking by, we are having dinner tonight 😢
Let that weight sink in, 259 pound Grizzly bear. The bear wasn't much larger than many men, but it shows you how much strength they possess. Now, if a 259 pound, emaciated female sow can break Lance's neck with her paw, imagine what a 700 pound Grizzly could do to you! Unreal power and unless you have a firearm and know how to not panic and use it, you're dead of the bear wants to kill you. Prepare and don't go into bear country unarmed.
I think it happened so fast that nothing would have helped him. Im saddened about the loss of the sow and the future of her cubs. Life in a zoo would be a worse fate than death id think if i were a bear. 🐻 Condolences to the mans family 🙏
The govt. decided to destroy the bear cause she partially consumed Lance and buried the rest to eat later. I disagree. I think that the most important fact was that Lance came upon the sow and her cub unexpectedly, eliciting a protective response. Only afterward did the bear decide to consume Lance. After all, the bears were digging for mushrooms when Lance surprised them. They should have let the bear live and relocated them.
The outcome of the sow and her cubs in this one was totally uncalled for.
A few things animals are like humans. They get drunk or intoxicated.
Cows pigs etc do it on Apple's mushrooms et
From how you described it Atticus, it doesn't seem like any bear spray or weapon could've saved Lance. His decision to go off the trails sealed it for him. It seems as if he walked by the sow & her cubs within mere feet, & as fast as bears are…& especially a mama bear…he was toast. I just don't understand why people that live near bear country are so lackadaisical about protecting themselves & walk anywhere they want, danger be damned. It's sad for him.
No,no predation ,yes,yes
Can only guess, because I wasn't there.
But this sounds like a very rare incident.
A sow with cub is always a very dangerous encounter.
Any bear in poor health can be dangerous, especially in spring or fall when food supplies can be minimal.
From description, her actions were defensive, then went to predatory.
Why waste a good meal?
I don't blame either, wrong place, wrong time.
Lesson to be learned.
In bear country, carry bear spray at the ready!
It can save both your lives.
Tragic as it may seem.
There are great lessons to be learned.
These bears aren't our "buddies", they are wild creatures that deserve respect and space.
Those that hunt or trap them instill that respect.
Keep a safe distance.
Status wise , we lose more children via human predators than bears.
So who is the real culprit?
Be safe, prepared, use a little common sense. Training is both sides.
I really enjoy Scary Bear Attacks! You have a great voice for telling stories. Its always sad to hear when a bear is euthanized for attacking a human. It's also sad for the people attacked by the bears, but we humans have to be aware of our surroundings and the possible dangers in all environments whether it be bears or mountain lions while hiking, other bad drivers while we are driving, bad drivers while walking across a busy intersection, or whatever. Prior planning, prevents piss poor performance… hahaha
You need to put in a twist in these stories. Like, instead of the sow bear, it was a taliban attack made to look like a bear attack.
My condolences to family , and friends. The scenery describe by the speaker sounds so beautiful. Lance shouldn't hv gone alone, and without protection. Hearing someone being eaten alive by bears is not a nice picture in one's mind; their cry for help echoes through the forest this is SAD.
His old ass knew better cmon now lol
Scary bear man's the best so detailed,informative,and knowledgeable and freaking scary .poor biologist didn't have a chance I think spray wouldn't help predatory attack 4 sure and the cub or cubs definitely would be eating people through learned behavior bears are very smart ….hate the zoo part😢
The Federal grizzly bear recovery plan emphasizes the importance of co-mingled DNA from Yellowstone Ecosystem and the Northern Continental Divide Ecosystem, to maintain genetic health of Ursos arctos horribilus. The two populations have not been migrating, north to south however.
Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks, in a display of profound ignorance, will be trapping grizzlies from the Cabinet-Yaak Mountains near the Canadian border for relocation in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem in Spring of 2024. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Director Martha Williams can the put agency approval on de-listing grizzlies.
Montana’s ranchers, hunting guides and ‘sportsmen’ can then begin industriously killing grizzlies back to crisis levels so they can have a nice rug. They really just want it to be 1880 again.
We have to decide if we want grizzlies to exist in our lives or not.
Much like African countries decades ago, we can learn to share our world with dangerous animals and benefit financially from tourism centered around wildlife.
There is no way I would go out into bear country unarmed and by myself. I want to be the one to dictate how an interaction with any wild animal goes never the other way around.
I love fungi!🥰….🌎☀️💙
What a tragedy! My heart goes out to his family. Just another reminder to be careful and never take liberties in bear country.
PEANUTS! 🥜🥜
YOU ARE THOUGHT PROVOKING- THAT'S FOR SURE!
EXCELLENT JOB
GRATEFUL THANKS
You have a charming ability to recreate a scene and to transport us into the heart of things. You are a born author. Bless you and the Father who bestows such gifts.
Bear Sprays and firearms are extremely ineffective when left back in the closet.
Going out for a short walk in the woods, maybe go off trail for a bit cause you’re an experienced outdoorsman? Have what you need for this trip? No Lance you definitely don’t. You have no weapon, no spray, no nothing, except your experience. This attack probably happened too quickly for you to have even used protection but there’s always a chance…If you have a weapon. Terribly sad.
I have to be honest, I am always relieved when the bear cubs are spared.🐾♥️
You do know that " cashe sight " was an Ant Hill….right ? 🤔😕