Welcome to Montana, where “sharing the neighborhood” takes on a whole new meaning. A local family near Pendroy recently checked their security footage only to find a casual seven-piece grizzly family squad stroll right through their yard—nearly giving resident Neal a heart attack in the process. Jerry, another family member, mentioned they usually have to watch these absolute units from the safety of a truck, noting that a buddy who got too close ended up with his ride used as a grizzly chew toy. According to a story posted by KMON Radio, while the state’s rules mean you mostly just have to play defense and hope for the best, you do have the right to protect yourself and your livestock if things get hairy.
Just make sure you’re packed properly if a 10-foot apex predator decides to RSVP to your backyard barbecue. If it comes down to a showdown, experts say your standard pea-shooter won’t cut it; you’ll want a hand cannon (like a 10mm or .44 Magnum), a heavy-duty rifle, or a pump-action shotgun loaded with slugs to actually stop a charge. Of course, if the thought of playing The Revenant in your pajamas doesn’t appeal to you, there’s always trusty bear spray—no judgment here, but you definitely want something on your hip when the local wildlife decides to drop by unannounced.
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