Tests confirm grizzly bears involved in Wyoming attack

UPDATE: 9-20-18 9:35 a.m. Forensic experts have finished their investigation of a grizzly bear attack that killed a local hunting guide and injured his client in the Terrace Mountain area northeast of Moran Junction.

On Sunday, Wyoming Game and Fish personnel killed the two bears responsible for the attack, a sow (female bear) and a yearling bear.

According to Game and Fish,all evidence collected at the attack scene, interviews with the hunting client, and evidence from the victim’s body led investigators to believe the two bears were responsible for the fatal attack. Forensic analysis confirmed the conclusions, they said.

The analysis matched saliva from the sow and hair from the yearling bear to saliva and hair found on the victim’s clothing.

“Now that we have the forensic evidence this concludes our investigation into this tragic attack,” said Brad Hovinga, Jackson regional wildlife supervisor for the Wyoming Game and Fish Department. “Our thoughts and prayers continue to go out to the victims’ families and friends.”

You can donate to a GoFundMe account set up for Mark HERE.

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UPDATE 9/17/18: The Wyoming Game and Fish Department is working to finalize its investigation into a recent grizzly bear attack that killed a local hunting guide and injured his client.
Game and Fish killed the two grizzly bears believed to be involved in the attack on Sunday.

“This is a tragic situation. Our thoughts and prayers go out to the victims’ families and friends,” said Brad Hovinga, Jackson regional wildlife supervisor for the Wyoming Game and Fish Department.

On Friday evening, Game and Fish personnel were notified by the Teton County Sheriff’s Office that a guide and his client were attacked by two bears while the men were field dressing an elk shot by the client the day before in the Terrace Mountain area.

The Game and Fish immediately responded to the area to provide assistance to the Teton County Sheriff’s Office in their search for the victims. The hunting client was flown to a local area hospital by helicopter where he received treatment for his injuries and the search began for the guide who was missing at the time of the initial response. Using information provided by the hunter, Game and Fish began to investigate the attack simultaneous to searching for the missing victim. This is standard operating procedure when wildlife attack humans.

The interagency search for the missing guide was suspended Friday evening and resumed early Saturday morning. The guide’s body was found that day, his fatal-injuries consistent with a bear attack.

An investigation found a discharged can of bear spray with the safety off near the body. It was later determined that the sow (female bear) had been sprayed with bear spray.

Later Saturday afternoon, foot snares were set at the site in an attempt to capture the offending bears. The use of foot snares allow Game and Fish personnel to live capture a bear in order to evaluate the individual bear and determine if the bear was involved in the attack prior to any management action.

On Sunday, a team of five Game and Fish personnel traveled to the site to check the foot snares. Upon reaching the site, it was determined a yearling grizzly bear was captured in the snare and an adult grizzly sow was in the vicinity. The sow charged the team in an aggressive manner and was shot by Game and Fish personnel. The yearling bear was chemically immobilized and determined to be involved in the attack of the victims. The yearling bear was then euthanized. All evidence collected leads Game and Fish investigators to believe these two bears were responsible for the fatal attack. Based on these findings, Game and Fish has discontinued all trapping operations in this area.

The bears have not been previously captured, relocated or handled by Game and Fish in either conflict mitigation or research efforts.

“The investigation revealed the two men approached the undisturbed elk carcass and there was no sign of bears in the immediate area of the carcass,” said Hovinga. “It was after they started field dressing the elk that the attack happened.”

“This type of bear behavior is not consistent with what we would normally see, especially from a family group. It is more typical for bears to behave in a defensive manner to protect a food source, cubs and their personal space in a surprise encounter,” explained Hovinga.

A complete and thorough investigation is still ongoing and will continue with a forensic analysis to provide additional scientific evidence.

You can donate to a GoFundMe account set up for Mark HERE.

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UPDATE 9/16/18: Wyoming officials have trapped and killed two grizzly bears they believe killed a hunting outfitter and injured his client.

Wyoming Game and Fish Department regional supervisor Brad Hovinga said Sunday the grizzlies were killed matched the description of those that killed 37-year-old outfitter Mark Uptain.

Uptain’s body was found Saturday in the Teton Wilderness east of Grand Teton National Park. Corey Chubon of Florida had leg, chest and arm injuries but was released from a hospital.

Hovinga suspects the bears were a sow and its grown cub. He tells the Jackson Hole News & Guide the bears weren’t behaving normally.

The men planned to retrieve an elk Chubon had killed. The bears apparently weren’t feeding on the elk or guarding the meat.

The attack is still under investigation.

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UPDATE 09/15/18 4:10 p.m.: Mark Uptain was discovered deceased this afternoon at approximately 1:15 p.m. by Search & Rescue personnel.

The official cause of death will be determined by the Teton County Coroner’s office.

ORIGINAL: Teton County Search and Rescue are seeking an elk hunting tour guide after a bear attack.

Corey Chubon of Florida, shot an elk during a guided bow hunt late Thursday afternoon. He and his guide, Mark Uptain of Martin Outfitters, could not find the wounded animal before nightfall.

The two went back on Friday morning to find and remove the elk. They found the undisturbed carcass in the afternoon and were preparing to pack out the elk when they were aggressively charged by two large bears.

Chubon ran to his pack gear a few yards away and retrieve a pistol but could not safely fire a shot at the bear that had struck Uptain.

The attacking bear then spun and charged at Chubon, grabbing his foot, and dragging him to the ground. He sustained injuries to his leg, chest, and arm, but was able to throw the gun to Uptain and get loose before running to call for help.

Teton County say the second bear did not engage either Chubon or Uptain.

An interagency helicopter was dispatched to the scene to assist with transport of the injured hunters.

Chubon was taken to St. John’s Medical Center in Jackson for treatment to his wounds.

Search and Rescue personnel were unable to locate Uptain before the search was suspended for the evening.

An interagency team from the Teton County Sheriff’s Office Search and Rescue, Wyoming Game & Fish Department, Grand Teton National Park, and Bridger-Teton National Forest continued search at 6:30 a.m. Saturday morning.

Game wardens are looking for evidence that may indicate if the bears were grizzlies.

“Search and Rescue is currently in the field, and we’re making every effort to locate and bring Mr. Uptain out from the backcountry,” said Undersheriff Matt Carrin in a press release.

Ground and air resources are being used for the search.

Teton County says that other hunters in the area should be aware of the search and rescue operations and the recent bear activity.