Why You Might Want To Have Bear Spray In Your Kayak
Bear Encounter While Kayaking
I was writing about Bear 610 and her cubs when clients told me about their bear encounter while kayaking in Grand Teton Park this week. Here's their story.
On vacation in Jackson Hole this week. Spent an afternoon kayaking on the Snake River oxbows - calm water with wildlife sightings (moose, eagles, otters, pelicans and other waterfowl) frequent.
This time, we had a surprise. We were drifting through a slough 10 to 15 feet from the shorelines when Karen said she saw a black bear. I readied the camera and as I drifted past, the bear raised his head ... not a black bear but one of the grizzly adolescents that are in the area.

I captured a few images as the bear came to the water's edge to check us out. When the bear splashed the water, I splashed the water too - with a few power strokes of the paddle to get clear.
Cheers,
John & Karen