EBS STAFF
The Buffalo
Horn Trail behind the 320 Guest Ranch south of Big Sky is currently closed
following the death of a horse belonging to archery hunters. According to Kevin
Frey, a grizzly bear specialist for Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks, the horse
died on the trail on Sept. 14.
“There was
grizzly bear activity along the trail prior to the horse dying and knowing that
bears would soon find the carcass and begin feeding on it, the trail was closed
for public safety,” he said in an email to EBS, adding that hunters who travel
in the dark during early morning or evening hours could be at risk of an
encounter.
“A carcass
can be viable for roughly four to 14 days, depending on the size of carcass and
the number of scavengers,” he said.
Given the
high chance of trail users encountering a bear at the carcass, the Custer
Gallatin National Forest has closed the trail to the public. Officials will
monitor the carcass site and re-open the trail when the attractant is no longer
drawing bears.
For more
information, call the U.S. Forest Service Bozeman Ranger District at (406)
522-2520.
