One VERY Big Griz

One of western Montana's most famous grizzly bears now has its own interpretive display for the many visitors who stop by the Forest Service's Lincoln Ranger District office.

In 2007, a driver hit and killed the 830-pound, 12-year-old male bear on U.S. Highway 200 outside of Lincoln. The bear quickly gained notoriety for its exceptional size, likely from its propensity to scavenge food amongst dwellings, and the clamoring of entities that wanted the animal after it had been stuffed. Officials finally determined the Lincoln bear's final home would be the Forest Service office, where it came to reside in 2008.

The initial buzz around the bruin immediately made the office a must-stop location for tourists passing through, said Forest Service biologist Pat Shanley. The opportunity to use the bear for education led to the recent completion of an interpretive display, full of grizzly facts and the famous bear's story.

"We still get quite a few with everyone on vacation that stop to see it," Shanley said. "It's certainly not like it was that first year when it was kind of crazy. From a local standpoint, a lot of people bring guests out to see it and they really like the display."

Included in the display is information on the natural history of grizzlies, their feeding habits and bear safety. An adjoining "Be Bear Aware" wall advises visitors on how to safely navigate the backcountry.

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