June 11, 1998 Glacier Reporter story: Racine investigates grizzly mauling by Sharon M. Anderson.
Wednesday, May 20, Racine was called in to investigate a death in the Two Medicine Valley of the ruggedly beautiful Glacier National Park. Preliminary reports pointed to a grizzly sow and her two cubs as the culprits.
Racine and the Glacier County Sheriff's Department had been alerted by a Glacier Park teletype on Monday, May 18, that a 26 year-old male employee of Glacier National Park had been missing for at least 24 hours.
Two days later, when Racine received a call around 10:30 a.m. from Ranger Donna Taylor of Glacier National Park asking for a coroner, he had a sinking suspicion it was to investigate the death of the missing employee, Craig Dahl of Winter Park, Colorado. Officials found Dahl's wallet containing his identification and a set of keys near his remains. However, from what very little remained of the body, they couldn't positively identify it as Dahl
"All that was left of this body was a few bigger bones, skull and a small piece of skin," said Racine. A few torn remnants of clothing remained near the two hiking boots containing the victim's feet. Grizzly hair and scat were found everywhere.
Lab tests conducted on the scat samples revealed human DNA present. Dental records concluded the remains were indeed those of Craig Dahl.
"In my initial investigation, it looked to me like this person was mauled, killed and eaten by a grizzly or grizzlies," said Racine. "But until the autopsy and DNA tests were performed, I wasn't at liberty to say, he added.
The Flathead County Sheriff's Office Search and Rescue team had found the remains in a clear, very steep and rugged area.
As Racine was doing his on-site investigation, Glacier National Park officials had security guards armed with 12 gauge shotguns standing around the perimeter of the "grave" scene. "They were there protecting me and my crew so we wouldn't get jumped by the bears coming back to defend this area," said Racine.
Dahl's glasses were found approximately 30 yards up from his remains on a rocky cliff, and pieces of his clothing marked the trail the bears took in dragging his body down the steep slope to where they consumed it near the tree line.
Glacier National Park employees are well-briefed on the dangers of working in the park. Dahl, who was to work as a jammer for Glacier Park this summer, reportedly was among the first group of employees to arrive at the park this season.
Jessica Hill of Tallalliassee, Florida, Jennifer Livingston of Missoula, Ed LeBlanc of Philadelphia, Penn. and Gavin Van Horn of Edmond, Oklahoma, who are working as 'jammers" this summer driving the buses for Glacier National Park, pointed out their group is the second "wave" of employees who have arrived to work at the park this summer.
These jammers confirmed all Glacier Park employees are very well advised of the natural dangers Glacier National Park has to offer. "When we arrived, Park personnel made it very clear to us," said LeBlanc "We even got a lecture Thursday night. I hope people don't get the 'Jaws hysteria' because of this," he added.
Glacier National Park Superintendent Butch Farabee announced Friday, June 5, the Park had destroyed the 13-year-old female grizzly known as Chocolate Legs, after DNA tests pointed to her as being at the death scene. She is believed to have killed Dahl.
Her two 2-year old offspring are believed to have been with her at the time. One of her cubs was caught last week and used to attract its brother. But after four days of being trapped with no sign of its sibling, park officials decided to euthanize the bear.
Park investigators suggest the following scenario: Dahl, who was hiking alone, surprised a family group of grizzly bears, fled, was pursued, killed and consumed.
Farabee reiterated, "Although we cannot prohibit people from hiking alone, we strongly discourage it. Glacier National Park is a wild place, but there is safety in numbers," he emphasized.