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Grizzly Bear Outreach Project [GBOP] |
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Newspaper article from 1923: Methow Valley Journal Vol. 12 No. 09 September 20, 1923 Thursday Only Grizzly Bear Ever Killed in the State
It now develops that the big grizzly bear killed by Government Hunter Pete Peterson is the only true grizzly bear ever killed in Washington. There have been many big bears killed that were supposed to be grizzly, but the true grizzly has a peculiar ridge of bone on the skull that distinctly marks him. The following is an account of the bear’s depredations in the range above Winthrop. Cattle have been killed in the Yellow Jacket and Goat Creek and Lost River Ranges which were attributed to cougars and common bears, until one night range boss W.R. Flourney heard a commotion and bellowing of a cow in distress. He got up to investigate, and in the moonlight saw an enormous bear hugging a full grown cow and eating her alive. Mr. Flourney was armed with only a revolver, but opened fire, driving the bear away. He then killed the cow which the bear had made a meal off of her shoulders and neck. Mr. Flourney notified the cattlemen, and through Hon. E.F. Banker, the government hunter, Peterson, and three bear dogs were obtained to run down the killer. In the meantime the sheep camps were raided and the sheep scattered over the mountains and the herders were in a state of panic. Upon his arrival Mr. Peterson took up the trail with the dogs, tracking him for two weeks, finding dead cattle and sheep in his wake. At last the spoor crossed the divide at Holman pass into Watcom county. At the headwaters of Ruby Creek in an almost inaccessible place the dogs succeeded in surrounding the grizzly. Mr. Peterson cautiously advanced but could see nothing on account of the thick underbrush. All at once the bear broke through the brush about thirty feet in front of Mr. Peterson. It was in an ugly temper and immediately charged the hunter. Mr. Peterson is an expert shot and pumped three bullets into the grizzly before bringing him down almost at his feet. Mr. Peterson was well aware of his danger when the dogs surrounded the bear, for the first thing he did was to take the bridle off his horse so if anything happened to him the horse would return and searchers would start out. The bear stood four feet seven inches to the top of his shoulder when on all four feet and weighed 1,340 pounds. The hide was more than a strong man could lift. The bear in getting away from the dogs had snagged himself, as a big splinter had torn a four-inch hole in his hide with the wood still in the wound. The hide and bones were packed out and will be mounted by the government. Eleven cattle are known to have been slaughtered by the killer; but the number of sheep is not known.
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