Interesting Facts About Montana’s Biggest Carnivores

Recently, the State of Montana Legislature decided to adopt Rodeo as the State's Official Sport.

While not all states have a "state sport", most states do have other things like the state flower, state bird, state tree, etc.  For those who are new to Montana, or maybe didn't pay attention in school, the Montana state flower is the Bitterroot, the state tree is the Ponderosa Pine, the state fruit is a Huckleberry, and the state bird is the Western Meadowlark.

READ MORE: Popular MT Steakhouse named among best in U.S.

So, does Montana have a state animal?

Yes, we do, and it's as tough as they come. Montana is home to a lot of wildlife so when choosing an animal to represent the state, that's no easy task. I mean, you could go with a moose, an elk, a bison, a mountain lion, or a big horn ram. All of those would be worthy of being the state animal of Big Sky Country.

However, back in 1983, more than 50 thousand students from across the state voted on what they thought would make the best state animal for Big Sky Country, and the winner was...the Ursus arctos horribilis. Or in layman's terms, the Grizzly Bear.

I'm in awe of Grizzly Bears, and I'm talking about the actual bear (not that other team over in Missoula). I've had the chance to be up close and personal with a couple (not in the wild), and they are stunning creatures.

Never mind the sheer power they possess. They are incredible in their agility, their speed, their sense of smell, and their intelligence. Grizzlies can run up to 35 miles an hour, stand over 8 feet tall, and weigh over 1500 pounds. If that's not terrifying, I'm not sure what is.

Oh, and my friends over at the Montana Grizzly Encounter tell me that the bears can smell for miles.

Montana is home to the largest population of Grizzlies inside the lower 48, with an estimated number right around 1500 living in the continental United States, 800 of those call Montana home.

In case you're wondering, if you are attacked by a Grizzly in the wild, there are some things you should do, according to the National Park Service:

"If you are attacked by a brown/grizzly bear, leave your pack on and PLAY DEAD. Lay flat on your stomach with your hands clasped behind your neck. Spread your legs to make it harder for the bear to turn you over. Remain still until the bear leaves the area."

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