The events within this story took place 53 years ago as I was not yet born until 1968. The glory days of free ranging in Yellowstone didn’t exactly slow down until the mid 1970’s.
As an adult I can’t imagine the level of ignorance the Park Rangers of 1967 displayed which lead up to the tragic events of that fateful night in 1967.
So much has been learned regarding wildlife and it’s habitat these past 50 yrs that it just seems unimaginable the Yellowstone caretakers of 1967 were so oblivious to at least some wildlife management concepts.
I don’t think they were actually.
After listening to this book, I believe what occurred was a perfect storm affected from complacency and willful oversight.
I grew up knowing the number one rule at Yellowstone is “Do Not Feed the Bears!” Now I know why this rule is effectively enforced. The cost of human life to learn that lesson and many other lessons as to why we don’t entice, or feed the bears with food, or food waste was a very high one.
Why didn’t certain higher ups in 1967 Park Management be held accountable and fired over this tragedy? The rule existed in 1967 but was lacking enforcement.
I was disturbed by the trash waste dumps near shelters and camping grounds described in the story as used to attract bears for tourists to get a glimpse at them.
More disturbing was the ignorant suggestions being tossed around back then about eliminating the Grizzlies from Yellowstone altogether to make it safer for visitors to the park.
Thankfully we’ve come a long way in the 53yrs since that fateful night. We have so much to learn yet still.