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 Not your average bear
Grizzly that mauled Tetonia man on display
By HEATHER WELLS
uvintern@postregister.com
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Robert Bower / Post Register - Ron Fullmer, left, takes a picture of taxidermist William James on Monday after James brought the Teton Valley Museum in Driggs its newest resident -- the grizzly bear that attacked Tim Henderson in April at his Tetonia home. After the bear was destroyed, local residents and Idaho Fish and Game officials suggested it be mounted and used for educational purposes. The male bear was 15 years old and weighed about 350 pounds when it was killed.
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Robert Bower / Post Register - Ron Fullmer, left, takes a picture of taxidermist William James on Monday after James brought the Teton Valley Museum in Driggs its newest resident -- the grizzly bear that attacked Tim Henderson in April at his Tetonia home. After the bear was destroyed, local residents and Idaho Fish and Game officials suggested it be mounted and used for educational purposes. The male bear was 15 years old and weighed about 350 pounds when it was killed.
The Teton Valley Museum in Driggs is exhibiting the animal to help make the public aware of outdoor dangers in eastern Idaho.
DRIGGS -- When Teton Valley Museum officials heard the grizzly that attacked a Tetonia man in the spring was killed, they immediately thought "display."
They believed a stuffed and mounted 350-pound bear would be a good tool to teach people about the dangerous side of grizzlies. So after some finagling and donations, the bear will spend its afterlife at the Driggs museum.
"When the general public goes up into the mountains, they need to be aware of the dangers they could encounter," said Kay Fullmer, the museum's president.
Idaho Fish and Game Department officials shot the grizzly four days after it mauled Timothy Henderson while he was looking for his dog near his Tetonia home. Conservation officers speculate the bear was protecting a moose carcass when it attacked, but it was later ruled a public threat.
Museum officials immediately contacted Fish and Game, which agreed to permanently loan the grizzly to them as long as they paid to have it mounted.
That presented another challenge -- mounting animals that big can cost thousands of dollars -- until Billy Joe's Taxidermy stepped up to donate its labor services.
William James, the owner of the shop, estimated that he spent 75 hours on the display, but said it was well worth his time.
"Sometimes the mood just strikes you to help people out," he said.
James finished the bear a week ago, and it officially went on display Monday.
Doug Petersen, a Fish and Game conservation officer, is glad the project worked out.
He believes it will help educate people in the area about grizzlies. The bear's fate was unfortunate, he said, but at least it's being used for a good cause.
"It's a great visual aspect for people to learn from," Petersen said. "I encourage people to go to the museum and become more bear-aware, so we don't have another situation."
A lot of people in the area haven't heard about the display, Fullmer said. Once the word gets out, she's hoping to see a lot of garnering interest from the community.
Steve Dietrich, who lives about a mile and a half from where the grizzly attacked Henderson, plans on visiting the display.
He believes extra precautions need to be taken when living in remote areas. Containing his garbage and carefully keeping an eye on his dog have all become part of his daily routine since living here.
"I'm fascinated with wildlife and would love to go see it," he said. "I'm sorry the thing had to be shot, but it's good it will serve some public use."
Upper Valley reporter Heather Wells can be reached at the Post Register's Rexburg office at 656-0101.
If you go
What: Exhibit of a grizzly bear that mauled a Tetonia man in April
Where: Teton Valley Museum, located on 137 N. State Highway 33 in Driggs.
When: From 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday and Wednesday, and from 10 a.m to 6 p.m. Thursday, Friday and Saturday
"Reprinted by permission of the Post Register"
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