I took the shot of the grizzly in the Fall of 2009 (seems long ago, doesn’t it?) while we were leaving Grand Teton National Park. Cars parked on the side of the road were a telltale sign that something is up and indeed there was.

This female, according to a park ranger, was all fattened up for the soon to come hibernation. Park warnings say get no closer to a grizzly than 300 feet. Well, standing beside the park ranger, we were within 75 feet and could have been a tasty snack for this mightiest of carnivores.

If need be, I was ready to jump into a nearby SUV or onto its roof. Alas, the critter sauntered off minding her own business and wondering what all the fuss was about.

This was the highlight of a two week trip to northern Wyoming and western S. Dakota.