Tag Archives: bears

Motorsport

Video Shows Bear Breaking into Honda CR-V for a Snack

Bears are known for their curiosity when it comes to food, which is why there are bear-proof trash cans and storage containers available. In this video, a bear managed to break into the back of a Honda CR-V to satisfy its hunger.

The incident took place at a cabin in the Smoky Mountains, where the CR-V was parked. The house had an outdoor-facing security camera that captured the scene.

The bear didn’t face any difficulty in accessing the Honda as the rear door appeared to be unlocked. However, instead of immediately climbing in, the creature took its time to look around and playfully scratched its paws.

Eventually, the bear managed to climb into the vehicle. The video ends after the bear enters the Honda. According to the YouTube description, the animal consumed some food inside the car and stayed there for approximately five minutes. Fortunately, there was no damage to the vehicle, but the bear left behind empty wrappers.

The website Bearwise.org specializes in providing advice on dealing with black bears, which is the species shown in the video. These bears have curved claws that are about 2.0 inches long, making it easy for them to open door handles. The website suggests locking your vehicle and not leaving the windows slightly open, as bears can grip the windows and break the glass.

Bearwise.org also recommends not leaving any items with a strong odor in your vehicle, such as scented air fresheners, lip balm, or hand lotion, as these smells can attract bears.

According to the National Park Service, there are approximately 900,000 black bears in North America. They are found in various regions, including Maine, Northern Georgia, the Appalachian Mountains, the Northern Midwest, the Rocky Mountains, parts of the West Coast, and Alaska. Their weight can range from about 100 pounds during the leanest times of the year up to over 300 pounds when they bulk up for the winter.

ToyotaUk

Bear Necessities: Northwest Toyota Dealers Support Documentarian’s Quest to Track Grizzly Migration in Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem

More than 40 years ago, grizzly bears were on the U.S. endangered species list, with just 200 of these majestic animals roaming the country’s western wilds. Today, due to federal protection measures and conservation, the grizzly population has eclipsed 1,000 bears in the Greater Yellowstone region.

With increasing numbers, the odds of grizzly-human interaction have grown exponentially, especially at Yellowstone National Park which attracts nearly 5 million visitors annually.

This statistical probability fascinated Emmy-nominated, outdoor journalist Kris Millgate, as she prepared for her next documentary subject.

“With all the challenges facing our natural resources these days, it’s important to celebrate nature’s wild successes too,” said Millgate, an Idaho resident and owner of Tight Line Media. “Greater Yellowstone grizzlies have figured out how to live among us. Now, we need to figure out how to live, work and play with a growing number of grizzlies on the landscape.”

Following her journalistic instincts, Millgate spent six months of 2022 following and filming grizzlies through parts of the 22-million-acre, Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem (GYE). The GYE includes Yellowstone National Park and Greater Teton National Park, plus portions of Idaho, Montana and Wyoming. With such an expansive territory, these federally protected grizzlies can travel more than 1,000 miles each summer, looking for food sources and potential mates.

After principal filming was complete, Millgate spent another six months reviewing and editing 17 hours of footage. As a result, she just completed her 30-minute documentary entitled “On Grizzly Ground.” The film features several grizzlies in their natural habitat, albeit from a safe distance.

“Following grizzlies is risky, but warranted,” Millgate said. “I made sure to stay a very safe distance from the bears, always putting a natural barrier, like a river or a hill, between me and my subjects.”

On a rare occasion, Millgate did get up close and personal with an adult grizzly after field specialists had tranquilized the bear for the purpose of fitting it with a tracking collar. She said the moment was a special one, until the bear’s eyelids fluttered open.

“We were taking some photos of me and the grizzly for size comparison purposes, when its eyes slowly opened,” she said, “The bear was groggy but the specialist quickly administered more of the tranquilizer to put it back to sleep. It definitely got my heart racing!”

Besides bear footage, “On Grizzly Ground” also showcases interviews with tourists, scientists, environmental activists and native tribes as they all consider the future of these creatures. According to Millgate, the native American viewpoint is thought provoking, as more than 50 tribes consider the GYE their ancestral home.

“For these tribes, bears are spiritual beings – so much so, they consider them their brothers,” she said.

“On Grizzly Ground” marks Millgate’s second major documentary in the past three years. Her first film, “Ocean to Idaho,” chronicles the journey of Chinook salmon and their round-trip migration from Idaho nesting tributaries to the Pacific Ocean and back. With a life expectancy of five years, the featured salmon traveled four rivers and three states to get to the Pacific, where they live for two to three years, before returning home. “Ocean to Idaho” won an array of awards from several outdoor media associations and environment-focused film festivals. This 30-minute film also earned Millgate a pair of local Emmy nominations.

The two documentaries were supported by Northwest Toyota Dealers, including Teton Toyota of Idaho Falls, both financially and through usage of an off-road capable, Toyota Tundra pickup truck.

“I’m extremely excited about the opportunity to support Kris Millgate’s latest major production. What Kris endured while following grizzlies for this new film is inspirational,” said Travis Zmak, Teton Toyota managing partner. “We are committed to the long-term goal of maintaining access to wild places and preserving habitats for wildlife. I hope this film allows us to gain some educational perspective around the changing landscape where we live and use that education to have meaningful conversations about these challenging topics.”

“On Grizzly Ground” debuts online on November 1, 2023. To order tickets and gain access to the documentary, see the link below.

https://www.tightlinemedia.com/shop/

Motorsport

Honda Co-Founder Who Helped Expand Company In US Inducted Into Hall Of Fame

Soichiro Honda, the renowned founder of Honda, had a co-founder who played a crucial role in the company’s growth. Takeo Fujisawa joined Honda shortly after its establishment and became Soichiro’s right-hand man, contributing to the company’s significant achievements over their nearly 25 years of partnership.

Fujisawa, who was recently honored by being inducted into the Automotive Hall of Fame, first met Soichiro in August 1949. This was a year after Soichiro had founded his company and immediately after the launch of Honda’s Dream D-Type motorcycle. By October of that same year, Fujisawa had joined the company and took charge of the business side, overseeing sales, finance, and marketing activities, while Soichiro focused on product design, technology, and manufacturing operations.