A Montana man recently survived a harrowing grizzly bear attack. The 72-year-old man, whose full identity has not been revealed, was picking huckleberries in the Flathead National Forest, 2 miles from the town of Columbia Falls, on Thursday, July 18, when the attack occurred.

According to a Montana Fish, Wildlife, & Parks (FWP) press release, shortly after the man encountered the bear, the bruin charged at and attacked him. Thankfully, he escaped a worst-case scenario by shooting and killing the grizzly bear with his handgun. The FWP did not release details on the make or caliber of the firearm.

Authorities say the victim of the attack was hospitalized following the incident but have not released further information about his current condition. FWP wardens located a deceased grizzly sow at the scene of the attack. An FWP spokesperson told the Associated Press that the bear was likely reacting defensively to protect her cubs, though officials have yet to locate any cubs in the area.

This is not the first high-profile attack involving a sow grizzly bear in the region this year. Earlier this summer, Field & Stream reported on an attack in Grand Teton National Park in which the victim survived because the sow grizzly accidentally bit his bear spray canister. Additionally, in May, a shed hunter shot a charging grizzly sow near Wolf Creek, Montana.

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Grizzly bear attacks in the Lower 48 are rare, though the species has increased its range throughout Montana and elsewhere in the Mountain West in recent years. Montana is one of several states petitioning the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) to delist the species, arguing that recovery goals have been met. The USFWS has yet to decide on the petitions and is facing at least one lawsuit for failing to meet its deadlines.

Two anglers and their fishing guide rescued 38 hounds that the men found desperately treading water in the middle of a 90,000-acre Mississippi lake earlier this month.

Bob Gist and Brad Carlisle set out for a day of crappie fishing on Grenada Lake on June 8 with Jordan Chrestman, who runs Tri-Lake Guide Service in Calhoun City, Mississippi. They’d been on the water only a short time when Gist spotted something odd in the distance. He asked Chrestman what he was seeing, according to Jonesboro Right Now, and Chrestman yelled, “I think those are dogs!” 

Chrestman motored closer to investigate, and the men were astounded to find dozens of hounds wearing electronic collars and struggling to stay afloat as they paddled randomly in different directions. And they were a long way from dry ground.

“The dogs were at least a mile offshore,” Gist told the news organization. “The way their heads were in the water, there’s no way they could see the shore. They were dog paddling and completely lost.”

Gist estimated that the dogs had been in the water 15 or 20 minutes, and they weren’t going to survive without help. The men began hauling them into the small bass boat; when they got 27 of the hounds aboard, there was no room for more. So they made a run to shore and returned for the remaining 11. By then, some of the hounds had been in the water for 45 minutes to an hour.

Gist, of Jonesboro, Arkansas, and Carlisle, of Covington, Tennessee, are both State Farm Insurance agents. That led to a lot of jokes online quoting the company’s ad slogan about good neighbors being there when needed. But the real hero is Chrestman, Gist told the Associated Press. “If it wasn’t for Jordan, there would have been 38 dead dogs,” he said.

The hounds were reunited with their owners, who explained that they were in the middle of a fox hunt when a deer jumped up, plunged into the lake, and swam away with the dogs in hot pursuit. Gist said the grateful hunters offered reward money, but Chrestman declined, suggesting the men pay it forward by helping someone else in need.

Gist and Carlisle went back to crappie fishing, and even boated a few—though that must have seemed like small fry compared to a limit of hounds. “We didn’t reel in a lot of fish,” Gist told Rick Karle Good News, “but we reeled in a lot of dogs.”

An apparent shark attack recently occurred off the coast of Oahu’s North Shore, resulting in the death of 49-year-old Tamayo Perry. According to local authorities, Perry’s body was found in the early afternoon on Sunday, June 23. He was pronounced dead at the scene and had suffered multiple shark bites. According to Stab Magazine, he was reportedly missing an arm and leg when officials recovered his body.

Perry, who grew up in Hawaii, was a well-known surfer and lifeguard who had also been featured as an actor in movies and T.V. shows such as Pirates of the Caribbean, Lost, and Hawaii Five-0. “Tamayo was a legendary waterman and highly respected,” said Honolulu Mayor Rick Blangiardi in a news conference.

The tragic incident marks the first fatal shark attack of 2024 in Hawaii—and any U.S. waters. The most recent similar incident occurred in December 2023 when a shark attacked and killed a 39-year-old surfer at Maui’s Paia Bay.

According to the International Shark Attack File, fatal shark attacks are extremely rare. Most attacks are considered cases of “mistaken identity,” in which sharks confuse humans for traditional prey items like seals and sea lions.

Read Next: Oregon Camper Trapped in Ravine is Rescued After Dog Runs 4 Miles for Help

It’s not immediately clear what species of shark was responsible for the recent fatal attack. According to the State of Hawaii, tiger sharks “are considered the most dangerous sharks in Hawaiian waters,” while white sharks are rarely encountered in the area.

Following the incident, officials have posted shark warning signs at Malaekahana Beach, where Perry died.

A 62-year-old Oregon man was stranded in the woods overnight after his truck plunged into a ravine. He was later rescued after his dog ran 4 miles to their intended campsite, alerting friends and family that something was wrong.

Brandon Garrett, of Halfway, Oregon, was driving on a remote U.S. Forest Service Road with his four dogs on June 2 when he missed a curve, according to a press release from the Baker County Sheriff’s Office. His truck plummeted into a steep ravine in the Wallowa-Whitman National Forest, a 2.4-million-acre swath of federal land in northeast Oregon and western Idaho. Garrett was able to crawl about 100 yards from the vehicle, which had come to rest on its side in a creek at the bottom of the ravine. He spent the night there with three of his dogs. The fourth dog, a whippet named Blue, took off.

Later that night Blue showed up at the campsite to which Garrett had been headed to meet his family. They began searching for Garrett that night and were finally able to locate the crash site the following morning. Brandon’s brother, Tyree Garrett, spotted the truck only after searching specifically for spots that couldn’t be seen from the road. He saw his brother’s dogs near the truck, but got no response when he called Brandon’s name. “That just stopped my heart,” Tyree told the New York Times, noting that the weather overnight had featured pouring rain and cold temperatures. “I just, God darn, thought for sure my brother was gone.”

Unable to get to the truck because of the thick brush and steep slope, the family called 911. Baker County Sheriff’s Office, Baker County Search and Rescue, Pine Valley Rural Fire District, and Halfway Ambulance responded to the scene. Sheriff Travis Ash was searching for a way to reach the truck when he heard Brandon Garrett calling for help. While the sheriff rendered first aid, volunteer firefighters and U.S. Forest Service employees used chainsaws to clear a path for the search and rescue team, which rigged a highline rope system and a rescue basket to pull Garrett across the ravine. He was then transported by ambulance to a Life Flight Helicopter and airlifted to a hospital.

Garrett told NBC-TV affiliate KGW that he’s had Blue for about five years and is very grateful to the dog and all the human helpers who saved his life. Blue reportedly made his trek with glass embedded in his snout, another dog sustained a broken leg, and a third required surgery for a broken hip. Garrett was treated for multiple non-life-threatening injuries and released.

When it comes to wilderness survival, the knowledge of utilizing natural resources for nutrition can be a game-changer. Pine bark cookies, a traditional survival food, have a rich history and have been used by various indigenous cultures and survivalists for centuries. These cookies provide sustenance in the wild and offer a unique taste and a deep connection to our natural world.

In this article, we will teach you how to make pine bark cookies and cover everything from harvesting to baking the cookies. I’ve also included some ingredients to transform this survival food into an absolute treat, adding a touch of modernity to this ancient tradition. 

Why Pine Bark?

Pine bark, mainly the inner bark or cambium layer, is a treasure trove of nutrients. It is rich in vitamins A and C and fiber, making it a powerhouse of nutrition. This part of the tree is not only edible but can also be harvested without causing significant harm to the tree—if done correctly. Pine bark has a long history of use as a survival food, particularly during times of scarcity. I was fortunate to find a recently blown-down Pinus virginiana (Virginia, yellow pine) for this recipe. This tree—which was still alive, but soon to be dead—was a perfect choice to harvest as much of the cambium layer as I needed without harming a live tree.

Choosing the Right Pine Tree

When harvesting pine bark, it’s essential to choose the right tree to ensure it’s safe for consumption. Here are some commonly used species:

• Eastern White Pine (Pinus strobus) is my favorite because it has more sucrose than other varieties, which makes for a sweeter cookie.
• Virginia Pine (Pinus virginiana) is my second favorite because it is abundant in my area. Its bark contains considerable fiber. 
• Ponderosa Pine (Pinus ponderosa) are found in the northwest and far western United States.
• Lodgepole Pine (Pinus contorta) are found in northern California and continuing into Canada in Western North America. 
• Scots Pine (Pinus sylvestris) are found in northern Europe, so I’m throwing this one in for our European foragers. 

Harvesting Pine Bark: Step-by-Step Instructions

You will want a sharp knife or draw knife to make easy work of this part of the process. Get a good collection bag or bandana to gather materials and move them to where you will process the ingredients. 

1. Identify a Healthy Tree: Choose a mature, healthy tree. Avoid trees that are diseased or damaged.
2. Locate the Cambium Layer: The cambium is the soft, moist layer between the outer bark and the wood. This is the edible part. You can use a draw knife on the thick park or just the sharpened spine on a knife on those with the thin layering of outer bark.    
3. Harvest: Cut a vertical strip of the outer bark, being careful not to take too much from any tree. Harvesting from different trees is best to avoid significantly harming one tree. If you are fortunate, as I was, to find a tree that was recently blown down, take as much as you wish. It will soon be dead and falling off. Peel back the outer bark to reveal the cambium layer. Carefully slice off the cambium layer in thin strips.

Preparing the Bark: Step-by-Step Instructions

Once you have harvested the cambium, it’s time to prepare it for cooking. Pine bark can be tricky, so some preparation is required to make it more palatable.

1. Cleaning: Rinse the bark strips thoroughly to remove any dirt or debris.
2. Drying: Lay the strips out to dry in the sun for a few hours, or use a dehydrator if you have one. Drying the bark makes it easier to grind into a powder.
3. Grinding: Once dried, use a mortar, pestle, or food processor to grind the bark into a fine powder. This will be the base for your cookies. I was excited to get the cookies made, so I used a food processor for this one. 

Ingredients for Pine Bark Cookies

To make pine bark cookies, you will need a few additional ingredients. These can vary depending on what you have available, but a basic recipe includes:

• 1 cup of pine bark flour (ground pine cambium)
• 1 cup of all-purpose flour (or more pine bark flour for a more rustic, gluten-free option)
• 1/2 cup of honey or maple syrup (for sweetness)
• 1/4 cup of melted butter or oil
• 1/2 teaspoon of baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon of salt
• One egg for binding (optional)
• Water (as needed to achieve the right dough consistency)
• Optional: nuts, dried berries, or chocolate chips for added flavor and texture (I used dried cranberries and pumpkin seeds for this recipe to add texture and bonus flavor.)

How to Bake Pine Bark Cookies

1. Find a smooth stone to cook on. Choose rocks from the environment, but avoid those found in creeks.  Creek rocks hold moisture and, under heat, will burst and throw fire and rock debris around. 
2. Build a fire with dense hardwoods on top of your rock. This will heat the rock during the process. Allow the coals to get ample amounts on all sides of the rock. For our purposes here, I chose a thin rock and stacked it on two pieces of firewood to get it off the ground. I then built a fire under and around the rock to get it hot. 
3. Mix the dry ingredients: In a large bowl, combine the pine-bark flour, all-purpose flour, baking soda, and salt.
4. Add the wet ingredients: Mix in the honey or maple syrup, melted butter or oil, and the egg if you’re using one. Stir well to combine.
5. Form the dough: Gradually add water to form a firm but not too sticky dough. If adding nuts, berries, or chocolate chips, fold them into the dough at this stage.
6. Shape the cookies: Use your hands to form the dough into small balls, then flatten them into cookie shapes. Place them on the rock. Placing oil on the rock will also help prevent the cookies from sticking. 
7. Cook on the rock with fire around it until the edges are brown. Keep an eye on them to avoid burning.
8. Scrape the cookies off with a spatula and let them cool on a rock or log that was not used in the fire. 

Nutritional Benefits

Pine bark cookies are more than just a survival food; they are packed with nutrients that can be beneficial in a survival situation. The cambium layer is rich in fiber, which aids in digestion. Adding honey or maple syrup provides natural sugars for energy, and any added nuts or berries contribute essential fats, proteins, and vitamins.

Tips for Making the Best Pine Bark Cookies

Experiment with Flavors: Pine bark has a unique, slightly sweet taste. You can enhance the flavor by adding spices like cinnamon or nutmeg.

Texture Matters: If the bark flour is too coarse, it can make the cookies gritty. Ensure the bark is ground as finely as possible. I will use regular kitchen appliances to do this when it is available. A mortar and pestle is a great way to keep it natural, but it takes considerable time to complete. 

Conservation: Remember to harvest bark sustainably. Take only a little from one tree, and always be mindful of the environment. This means you should only remove bark some of the way around one tree.  This is called girdling and will kill the tree. 

Final Thoughts on Pine Bark Cookies

Making pine bark cookies is a rewarding experience that connects you to traditional survival skills and the natural world. Whether preparing for a backcountry adventure or simply curious about alternative foods, these cookies offer a unique and nutritious option. By following the steps outlined in this guide, you can create a batch of pine bark cookies that are both delicious and packed with the sustenance needed for any wilderness journey.

So, next time you’re out in the woods, take a moment to appreciate the pine trees around you. They’re a beautiful part of the landscape and a valuable source of nutrition waiting to be discovered. Happy baking!

Seeing a bear in central Florida is a fairly rare occurrence. Seeing a bear fight off two alligators while crossing a river—and capturing the entire tussle on video—is, well, crazy really. And yet it happened, just this week.

While paddling the St. Johns River between the High Banks marina and the Wekiva River on June 4, Kayaker Tyler Futrell of DeBary, Florida, spotted something swimming across the river and started recording it with his cell phone from about 100 feet away.

Early in the nearly 2-minute video, Futrell says uncertainly, “Not really sure what this is. I think it’s a pig?”

https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=1180174876348191&ref=sharing

He later told Orlando’s News 6, “I grew up around here, so I’m pretty used to seeing hogs and whatever, but a bear is a pretty rare sight, so it didn’t even cross my mind.”

As Futrell continues to record the animal’s progress, a large gator swims into the frame aiming straight for the bear. “Oh, man, alligator coming to say hi,” Futrell says. As the two predators collide head on, the bear rises out of the water briefly, appearing to swat at the lunging gator, before swimming on. The gator appears to give chase for a few seconds before disappearing, prompting Futrell to comment, “Man, that’s a big gator.”

A half-minute later, as the bear swims parallel to the river bank to skirt a large mat of vegetation, a second gator lunges out from under the green cover, churning up a big splash of water. The bear again ploughs through the attack and hauls itself out on the bank. “It’s a frickin’ bear!” exclaims Futrell. “I’ve never seen that before in my life!”

Futrell couldn’t say if the bear or gators were injured, but the bear appears unharmed while climbing out of the river and can be heard moving away through the woods. Futrell told News 6 the bruin “was just kind of annoyed and ready to get out of the water.”

Florida has an estimated 4,000 black bears (the only bear species in the state) according to Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. June marks the beginning of their breeding season, which extends to August. Cubs are born in late January and early February. Although their numbers have been rising since the 1980s, FWC estimates that bears today occupy only about 49 percent of their historic range in the state.

This chihuahua may be small, but it’s pretty damned fearless. In late May, a TikTok user in Alaska posted a video showing her purse-sized dog barking at a cow moose in the street. “And, of course, it’s the 6-pound chihuahua that’s making poor choices,” the dog’s owner wrote in the video description.