Wyoming
Grizzlies Fight Over Food Right Next To Wyoming Man’s Truck
Getting video of a grizzly mother and cub fighting over food, practically within arm’s reach, seemed cool enough to share on social media for a Cody man, but he didn’t expect it to catch fire.
“It was funny. It was just a typical day at work for me. I had no idea it was going to blow up like that,” Ryan Aune told Cowboy State Daily on Thursday afternoon.
It’s easy to see why it did. From inside the cab of his truck, Aune had his camera running when the sow and cub burst through the underbrush next to the road, each with their jaws clamped tight on some sort of carcass. They were fighting over control of the food even while on the move. Another cub runs alongside them.
Both bears are vocalizing while trying to get the meat from the other, an example that while grizzly mommas take good care of their cubs, they don’t always share. And it’s a lesson for the cub that as an apex predator, it takes what it needs.
The video, which he posted Wednesday, already had more than 1.2 million views on Facebook by Thursday afternoon.
“That’s what it’s like living in Wyoming. What you think is normal is insane to other people,” said Aune, who owns Wyoming Wings & Waters guide service.
Reaction to the video has been mostly positive, although there have been some peanut gallery comments, he said.
“Somebody commented something like, ‘Great filming, said no one, ever.’ And I’m thinking, ‘Sure, you try being right next to grizzlies fighting and not flinch,” Aune said.
He took the video at 5:50 a.m. Wednesday alongside the highway between Cub Creek and Lake Butte in Yellowstone National Park, as he was on his way to meet a fishing client.
It wasn’t his first close encounter with grizzlies. In 2019, Aune shot and killed a grizzly with birdshot from just a few feet away when it charged him near the Clarks Fork River.
Wildlife agents investigated the shooting and cleared it as a case legitimate self-defense, but Aune said the experience still made him sad.
‘I Could Feel Every Little Bit Of It’
Aune frequently drives into Yellowstone through the East Gate early in morning, so he’s used to seeing grizzlies and other wildlife along the way.
When he spotted some grizzlies coming out of the cover right next to the highway, he decided it was worth pulling over and maybe get some video.
“It was like, ‘Oh, there’s bears, it looks like they’re playing. No, wait, they’re fighting over something,’” he said.
By time he his rig pulled over and he rolled down his window to shoot video on his smartphone, the grizzlies had retreated into the trees and brush. But he started recording anyway, just in case.
“All of the sudden, there comes momma grizzly out of the trees, straight at me,” Aune said.
And the cubs were right with her. One cub just seemed to be following along.
The other was tussling violently with its mother over a scrap of food.
Exactly what it was they were fighting over, Aune isn’t sure.
“I think it was a marmot, but I’m not sure. I was more focused on safety at that point,” he said.
The mother grizzly and cub didn’t appear to be trying to hurt each other, but each was tugging mightily at the tasty treat, not wanting the other to get it.
They were growling and huffing ferociously.
The trio of bears was maybe 15 feet away from his open window.
“I could feel the sound in my body. I could feel every bit of it,” Aune said.
The bears were completely caught up in what they were doing and didn’t seem to notice Aune or his truck.
“I’ve got a 2022 F-350, which is very noticeable,” he said.
After a few seconds of mighty struggle, the video ends with the cub claiming the prize and running back into the cover, with its mother and sibling close behind.
After viewing the video, Wyoming Game and Fish Large Carnivore Specialist Dan Thompson said it appeared to be a typical case of grizzlies struggling over who got the last bite.
But whether the cub ultimately prevailed remains unknown, he told Cowboy State Daily.
“It looks to me like they’re having a tussle over the last scrap of food at the table, and junior won … for now,” he said.
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Hunting and fishing guide Ryan Aune of Cody shot and killed this grizzly bear when it charged him near the Clark’s Fork River in 2019. Investigators deemed the shooting justified self-defense, but Aune said killing the bear saddened him. (Courtesy Ryan Aune, Wyoming Wings and Waters Guide Service)
2019 Encounter Ending In Shooting
Aune said that Wednesday’s encounter gave him “flashbacks” to nearly being mauled in 2019.
He and his father were bird hunting along the Clarks Fork River one November day.
“We had just gotten finished burying a great bird dog, and we were just trying to make a bummer of a day into a good day by going hunting in that dog’s honor,” he said.
Aune was in what he described as a “tunnel of trees” near the river when he heard his father yell, “grizzly!”
He heard some thrashing, and a grizzly cub appeared out of the cover in front of him. He shouted at it, and the cub turned to run toward the river.
“I turned to my left, and there was momma grizzly not about 10 feet from me,” he said. “I had nowhere to go, and I just started shooting.”
His semiautomatic Berretta 12-gauge was loaded with No. 6 birdshot. Those are small pellets made to knock upland gamebirds out of the air, not to take down angry grizzlies.
But at near point-blank range, the pattern was so bunched up that each blast hit almost like single projectile.
The bear was standing when Aune opened fire, and the first two shots hit it in the upper chest and neck area.
The bear dropped to all fours and tried to charge, but the third blast “went right through the skull” and instantly killed it, Aune said.
He left the bear’s carcass and the empty shotgun shell hulls right where they fell so game agents could investigate the scene.
It’s illegal to shoot a grizzly in the Lower 48, unless it’s in self-defense. Investigators must be called to the scene as soon as possible.
Though he was cleared of any wrongdoing, and the bear appeared to have already been in poor bodily condition, Aune said killing the grizzly weighed heavily on him.
He was particularly saddened by orphaning the cub.
“It took me a while to get over that,” he said.
He hopes that any future encounters with grizzlies will involve photos and video, not gunfire.
“I don’t wish that feeling on anyone. What you feel like when you have to kill something to save your own life,” he said.
Mark Heinz can be reached at mark@cowboystatedaily.com.
The first weekend of high school volleyball in Wyoming is here. There are tournaments galore in the state. Cheyenne, Cokeville, Cowley, Douglas, Lander, and Lingle are all hosting tournaments. There are all but two teams in action, Jackson and Wind River. They will start play next week. There is only one individual contest this week, Ft. Washakie travels to Saratoga in Class 1A Southwest action. Two conference matches are also part of the schedule.
The schedule for Week 1 is below. All schedules are subject to change. For any updates, please reach out to david@wyopreps.com.
Class 1A
Ft. Washakie at Saratoga (conference match) – MISSING SCORE
Tournaments
Cheyenne Invitational
Final Score: #3 Thunder Basin 2 #5 Star Valley 0 = 25-22, 25-18
Final Score: 4A Cheyenne East 2 3A Rawlins 0 = 25-14, 25-9
Final Score: Natrona County 2 Cheyenne Central 1 = 25-12, 14-25, 25-16
Final Score: Riverton 2 Cheyenne South 0 = 25-21, 25-16
Final Score: #1 Laramie 2 #2 Kelly Walsh 0 = 25-17, 25-19
Final Score: Green River 2 #4 Campbell County 1 = 25-21, 25-11
Sheridan vs Rock Springs – MISSING SCORE
Final Score: #3 Thunder Basin 2 Riverton 0 = 25-21, 25-17
#4 Campbell County vs Natrona County – MISSING SCORE
Final Score: #5 Star Valley 2 Cheyenne South 0 = 25-12, 25-23
Final Score: #2 Kelly Walsh 2 Cheyenne East 0 = 25-14, 25-21
Final Score: Cheyenne Central 2 Rock Springs 0 = 25-16, 25-15
4A Sheridan vs 3A Rawlins – MISSING SCORE
Final Score: #1 Laramie 2 Green River 1 = 21-25, 25-23, 25-20
Final Score: #5 Star Valley 2 Sheridan 1 = 25-14, 22-25, 27-26
#3 Thunder Basin vs Rock Springs – MISSING SCORE
Natrona County at Cheyenne South – MISSING SCORE
Final Score: Cheyenne Central 2 Green River 0 = 26-24, 25-19
Final Score: 4A #1 Laramie 2 3A Rawlins 0 = 25-10, 25-6
Cokeville Invitational (3 courts – JV before Varsity)
2A Kemmerer at 1A #1 Cokeville – MISSING SCORE
Final Score: Bear Lake, ID 3 1A #2 Little Snake River 0 = 25-12, 25-20, 25-20
1A Riverside vs Preston, ID – MISSING SCORE
Final Score: 3A #1 Mountain View 3 Grace, ID 1 = 19-25, 25-18, 25-23, 25-13
Final Score: 4A Evanston 3 West Side, ID 0 = 25-13, 25-11, 25-23
Final Score: 3A #1 Mountain View 3 1A #1 Cokeville 1 = 26-24, 20-25, 25-18, 25-21
Final Score: 1A #2 Little Snake River 3 Rich, UT 2 = 24-26, 25-23, 25-21, 20-25, 15-8
Final Score: 4A Evanston 3 1A Riverside 0 = 25-19, 25-14, 25-22
2A Kemmerer vs Grace, ID – MISSING SCORE
2A Kemmerer vs 3A #1 Mountain View – MISSING SCORE
Final Score: 4A Evanston 3 Preston, ID 0 = 25-23, 25-20, 27-25
Final Score: 1A #1 Cokeville 3 Grace, ID 2 = 23-25, 25-14, 16-25, 26-24, 15-7
1A #2 Little Snake River vs Star Valley JV – MISSING SCORE
1A Riverside vs West Side, ID – MISSING SCORE
Dogger Invitational in Lingle (rolling times in the High School & Middle School Gyms on the next available court)
Final Score: #5 Lingle-Ft. Laramie 2 Rock River 0 = 25-8, 25-8 (conference game)
Final Score: 2A #3 Pine Bluffs 2 Guernsey-Sunrise 0 = 25-19, 25-9
Final Score: #3 Upton 2 Lusk 0 = 25-23, 25-19
Final Score: Kaycee 2 H.E.M. 1 = 17-25, 25-11, 15-7
Final Score: #5 Lingle-Ft. Laramie 2 Arvada-Clearmont 0 = 25-7, 25-5
Final Score: 2A #3 Pine Bluffs 2 1A Hulett 0 = 25-17, 25-20
Final Score: Guernsey-Sunrise 2 Kaycee 1 = 25-22, 18-25, 15-6
Final Score: #3 Upton 2 Rock River 0 = 25-14, 25-12
Final Score: Arvada-Clearmont 2 H.E.M. 0 = 25-18, 25-23
Final Score: Lusk 2 Hulett 0 = 25-12, 25-20
Final Score: #3 Upton 2 #5 Lingle-Ft. Laramie 0 = 25-17, 25-20
Final Score: 2A #3 Pine Bluffs 2 1A Kaycee 0 = 25-10, 25-11
Final Score: Rock River 2 Arvada-Clearmont 0 = 25-16, 25-17
Final Score: Guernsey-Sunrise 2 Hulett 0 = 25-17, 25-16
Final Score: Lusk 2 H.E.M. 1 = 25-19, 19-25, 15-9
Final Score: 2A #3 Pine Bluffs 2 1A #3 Upton 0 = 25-15, 23-25, 15-9
Final Score: #5 Lingle-Ft. Laramie 2 Kaycee 0 = 25-20, 25-17
Final Score: Hulett 2 Rock River 0 = 25-17, 25-22
Final Score: Guernsey-Sunrise 2 H.E.M. 1 = 25-23, 20-25, 15-9
Final Score: Lusk 2 Arvada-Clearmont 0 = 25-17, 25-11
Douglas Bearcat Invitational (rolling times – JV plays 1st)
Pool A – Rec Center
Final Score: 3A #3 Douglas 2 2A #5 Wright 0 = 25-11, 25-16
Final Score: 2A Moorcroft 2 3A Burns 0 = 25-17, 25-16
Final Score: 3A #3 Douglas 2 2A Moorcroft 0 = 25-5, 25-6
2A #5 Wright vs 3A Burns – MISSING SCORE
Moorcroft vs #5 Wright – MISSING SCORE
Burns at #3 Douglas – MISSING SCORE
Pool B – Bearcat Den
Final Score: Torrington 2 Glenrock 0 = 25-16, 25-13
Final Score: 1A #4 Southeast 2 3A Buffalo 0 = 25-20, 25-16
3A Torrington vs 1A #4 Southeast – MISSING SCORE
Buffalo vs Glenrock – MISSING SCORE
1A #4 Southeast vs 3A Glenrock – MISSING SCORE
Buffalo vs Torrington – MISSING SCORE
Pool C – Middle School
Final Score: 3A Wheatland 2 2A #1 Big Horn 0 = 28-26, 28-26
Final Score: Alliance, NE 2 3A Newcastle 0 = 25-23, 25-22
Final Score: 2A #1 Big Horn 2 Alliance, NE 0 = 25-13, 25-19
Wheatland vs Newcastle – MISSING SCORE
Final Score: 3A Wheatland 2 Alliance, NE 1 = 25-20, 23-25, 15-7
2A #1 Big Horn vs 3A Newcastle – MISSING SCORE
Lander Invitational (Fieldhouse 1 & 2 and Aux Gym are used for courts – JV plays 1st)
3A Lovell vs 2A Wyoming Indian – MISSING SCORE
Final Score: 3A #4 Lyman 3 2A Big Piney 0 = 25-13, 25-19, 25-15
Final Score: #2 Cody 3 Pinedale 1 = 19-25, 25-16, 25-14, 28-26
3A #5 Powell vs 2A Shoshoni – MISSING SCORE
1A Farson-Eden vs 3A Worland – MISSING SCORE
Final Score: 3A Lander 3 2A Thermopolis 2 = 23-25, 19-25, 25-12, 25-17, 15-13
Final Score: Lovell 3 #4 Lyman 2 = 22-25, 25-21, 15-25, 25-22, 16-14
Final Score: Pinedale 3 Worland 1 = 25-22, 17-25, 25-14, 25-23
Final Score: 3A #2 Cody 3 2A Big Piney 0 = 25-9, 25-16, 25-14
1A Farson-Eden vs 2A Thermopolis – MISSING SCORE
Shoshoni vs Wyoming Indian – MISSING SCORE
Final Score: #5 Powell 3 Lander 0 = 25-21, 25-17, 25-14
North Big Horn County Tournament in Cowley (Main and Aux Gyms – JV plays 1st)
Final Score: 2A Rocky Mountain 2 1A Meeteetse 0 = 25-11, 25-6
2A #4 Greybull vs 1A Burlington – MISSING SCORE
Final Score: Dubois 2 Meeteetse 0 = 25-7, 25-11
2A #2 Tongue River vs 1A St. Stephens – MISSING SCORE
Final Score: 2A Rocky Mountain 2 1A Dubois 0 = 25-22, 25-17
1A St. Stephens vs 2A #4 Greybull – MISSING SCORE
Final Score: 2A Sundance 2 1A Meeteetse 0 = 25-6, 25-9
Final Score: 2A #2 Tongue River 2 1A Burlington 0 = 25-22, 25-10
Final Score: 2A Sundance 2 1A Dubois 0 = 25-11, 25-20
Final Score: #4 Greybull 1 #2 Tongue River 1 = 25-22, 16-25
Final Score: Sundance 1 Rocky Mountain 1 = 25-18, 20-25
Burlington vs St. Stephens – MISSING SCORE
Tournaments
Cheyenne Invitational
#4 Campbell County vs #2 Kelly Walsh, 9 a.m. (East HS)
#1 Laramie vs Riverton, 9 a.m. (Central HS)
4A #3 Thunder Basin vs 3A Rawlins, 9 a.m. (South HS)
#5 Star Valley at Cheyenne East, 10 a.m.
Sheridan vs Green River, 10 a.m. (Central HS)
Rock Springs at Cheyenne South, 10 a.m.
4A #4 Campbell County vs 3A Rawlins, 11 a.m.
Riverton at Cheyenne Central, 11 a.m.
#3 Thunder Basin vs Natrona County, 11 a.m. (South HS)
Rock Springs at Cheyenne East, noon
Sheridan vs #2 Kelly Walsh, noon (Central HS)
Green River at Cheyenne South, noon
#1 Laramie vs #5 Star Valley, 1 p.m. (East HS)
#4 Campbell County vs Riverton, 1 p.m. (Central HS)
Natrona County at Cheyenne East, 2 p.m.
#2 Kelly Walsh at Cheyenne Central, 2 p.m.
Cokeville Invitaional
Gold Bracket – Courts 1 & 2
1A #1 Cokeville vs Preston, ID, 8 am (Court 1)
4A Evaston vs Star Valley JV, 10:30 am (Court 1)
3A #1 Mountain View vs 1A #2 Little Snake River, 10:30 am (Court 2)
Consolation match, 1 pm
Consolation match, 1 pm
Semifinal match, 3:30 pm
Semifinal match, 3:30 pm
5th place match, 6 pm
3rd place match, 6 pm
Championship match, 8:30 pm
Silver Bracket – Court 3
1A Riverside vs Rich, UT, 8 am
2A Kemmerer vs West Side, ID, 10:30 am
Consolation match, 1 pm
Championship match, 3:30 pm
Douglas Bearcat Invitational (rolling times – JV plays 1st)
The top 8 teams will be in the Gold bracket, split between the Rec Center & Bearcat Den
The other 4 will play round-robin games in the Silver bracket, at the Middle School
Lander Invitational (Fieldhouse 1 & 2 and Aux Gym are used for courts – JV plays 1st)
Wyoming Indian vs Big Piney, 8 a.m. (FH 1)
Lovell vs Pinedale, 8 a.m. (FH 2)
#4 Lyman vs #2 Cody, 8 a.m. (Aux)
3A Worland vs 2A Thermoplois, 10:30 a.m. (FH 1)
1A Farson-Eden vs 3A #5 Powell, 10:30 a.m. (FH 2)
2A Shonshoni at 3A Lander, 10:30 a.m. (Aux)
2A Big Piney vs 3A Lovell, 1 p.m. (FH 1)
3A #2 Cody vs 2A Wyoming Indian, 1 p.m. (FH 2)
#4 Lyman vs #5 Powell, 1 p.m. (Aux)
3A Pinedale vs 2A Thermopolis, 3:30 p.m. (FH 1)
2A Shoshoni vs 1A Farson-Eden, 3:30 p.m. (FH 2)
Worland at Lander, 3:30 p.m. (Aux)
North Big Horn County Tournament in Cowley
Gold Bracket in the Main Gym
Brown Bracket in the Aux Gym
WyoPreps Preseason Football Tour 2024
Photos from practices of teams preparing for the 2024 Wyoming High School football season.
Gallery Credit: David Settle, WyoPreps.com
When it comes to Sheridan County residents, most of them are older than 25 years of age, have a high school diploma, have better ACT scores compared to the state average, and have a higher home value.
Earlier this month the Wyoming Economic Analysis Division released its latest state and county profile report, which measures demographic, social, economic, housing and revenue conditions.
The report says Sheridan County has a population of a little more than 32,000 residents, but for the county and for the state, less than 10% of them are between the ages of 18 and 24.
About 96% of Sheridan County residents have at least a high diploma or equivalent, and 32% have at least a bachelor’s degree or better.
For the 2022-2023 school year, the average ACT score for high school juniors was 19.9, which is better than the statewide average of 18.8.
Johnson County had an average score of 18.6.
The graduate rate for the county was 88.2% and was 81.4% in the Cowboy State.
The median household income in Sheridan County was almost $69,000, and the income of about 8.7% of residents is below the poverty level, compared to 10.7% for the state.
Average full-time earnings in 2022 for men was about $66,000 per year, and about $43,500 for women, which for the latter, is about $1,400 a year below the state average.
The average home value in Sheridan County is more than $342,000, which is $70,000 more compared to all of Wyoming.
Click here for more information.
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