Back in June I reported that 70-year-old Erwin Evert had been attacked and killed by a male grizzly bear near Yellowstone. An investigation team has completed a report on what happened that led up to the death of Evert.
The report shows that researchers at the site where Evert was killed, had just finished working on a trapped and drugged grizzly bear and that while the bear was showing signs of recovering, researchers pulled their gear and took down warning signs and left the area.
The timing of Evert’s hike placed him at the bear trapping scene after the signs were taken down. Evert’s dead body was found only a few yards from where the bear had been captured and drugged.
What I noted from the investigation was that the two bear researchers decided to take down the signs on the way out because this was their last day of bear research in that area and they didn’t think anybody was around. Instead of leaving the signs for the remainder of the day and exerting a bit more effort the following day to retrieve the signs, their unthoughtful decisions, probably are what killed Erwin Evert.
The Western Institute for Study of the Environment has more information and insight on this event. Mike chronicles the work, research and conclusions of Dave Smith, Bear Attack Examiner, as well as declaring what he deems “negligent homicide” and efforts to “hide their research data”.
Tom Remington
