Bears Destroy Mock Campsite, Lone Cooler Survives

by
posted on March 19, 2014
** When you buy products through the links on our site, we may earn a commission that supports NRA's mission to protect, preserve and defend the Second Amendment. **

Few outdoorsmen and women would ever be naive enough to doubt the capabilities of an adult grizzly, but there's still a formidable gap between imagining what the bears can do and actually seeing it. The folks at ZooMontana decided that the world at large could use a refresher on just how much damage a hungry bear might do, and figured there was only one way to really get the message across: Let a couple of grizzlies go to town on a mock campsite.

According to The Billings Gazette, ZooMontana sic a pair of its grizzly bears—Bruno and Ozzy, respectively—on a faux campsite that the staff had put together. A tent, sleeping bags, a garbage can, some chairs and a collection of coolers—about what you'd expect at your average American campsite—were mocked up and sealed in an enclosure with the duo. Bear kibble, fruit and peanut butter (the latter two of which, again, would be found in just about any real campsite) were placed inside the food containers as incentive, and the big grizzlies wasted no time in getting to work.

Through a combination of brute force and a little persistence, the bears tore the example site to shreds in short order. Only one piece of gear survived the assault: Cabela's Alaskan Guide Cooler by Grizzly Coolers. The heavy-duty unit is built to withstand the worst, and it showed. The cooler's double-wall construction was challenged by each bear, in turn. It was a little worse for the wear by the time each grizzly had given up, but it didn't open or break. That's durability.

Get a closer look at the staged carnage in the video embedded below.

Latest

Henry 250Th Anniversary Guns
Henry 250Th Anniversary Guns

Henry Honors America's 250th with Collector-Grade Rifles

Henry Repeating Arms is now shipping the America's 250th Anniversary Tribute Edition Collection: three collector-grade lever-action rifles to mark the nation's 250th anniversary of independence.

Behind the Bullet: The .500-416 Nitro Express

When discussing the Nitro Express cartridges, my mind is immediately drawn to East Africa in the first few decades of the 20th century, but there are modern developments which fill a niche. One such is the .500/416 3 ¼-inch Nitro Express developed by Kreighoff at the end of the 20th century. Let's look at the history and characteristics of the .500-416 Nitro Express.

New for 2026: Bear Creek Arsenal .30-30 Uppers

Bear Creek Arsenal is expanding its lineup with new .30-30 Winchester rifle and upper options, bringing one of America's most recognized hunting calibers into modern sporting rifle configurations.

Shotgun Slug 101: What to Look For

Don’t overlook shotgun slugs. When hand-picked, they will deliver outstanding accuracy and big game-bagging performance. Here’s a primer.

Leupold Announces Limited-Edition 'Mark 250' Riflescope Package

Commissioned to commemorate the United States Semiquincentennial, the Mark 250 package is built for the patriots that demand performance.

Ruger Celebrates 250 Years of American Liberty with Limited-Production Firearms

Ruger has expanded its 250th Anniversary Series of firearms, further commemorating the United States Semiquincentennial while celebrating the Company's longstanding tradition of American manufacturing. Each limited production model in this special collection is distinctly marked with the inscription, "Made in the 250th Year of American Liberty."

Interests



Get the best of American Hunter delivered to your inbox.