It’s August 14, 2026, and even in the past month, much of the landscape has changed from green to brown. Today is the second day in a rainy spell that has erased the past weeks of heat and smoke, and I, for one, am grateful. Other hints of a transition have been appearing, like nights cool enough to close the windows. Even though I do, coyotes and elk still sing in the back pasture. Bears wander through the pastures digging for caraway and yampah (check out our previous post), and the evening procession of cars en route to the Bear Spot is increasing.

Range rider training. Photo by Belle Brown

Unlike previous TMBA range riders, I don’t have a background in biology or large carnivores, but rather in sociology - the study of people…a species that I often find far more frightening than the grizzlies in Tom Miner Basin. The Basin is a geographical depression of only about 30 square miles, and is held on three sides by the Gallatin Mountains. You will often hear the fact proudly stated that Tom Miner Basin has the highest population of grizzlies in the lower 48. From other ranchers in the area, you may also hear, “them bears are thicker than curd” - in reference to the density of animals in the Basin. I tend to believe both statements are true, given that I saw seven bears today without leaving headquarters. So in this relatively small geographical location, full of natural abundance and proximity to the eco-tourism wildlife mecca -Yellowstone National Park - a unique problem has arisen. Lots of bears, and an increasing number of people who really, really want to see them.

Video showing quiet coexistence at its peak. A human and a horse watching a sow with two cubs walk straight past cows. Sandhill cranes in the background. Video by Carlos.

Last night, I was chatting with a family from Minnesota who love the Basin so much that they bought a second home in Emigrant. Avid hunters, these fellas shared stories of their successful hunts in these hills, including for bears. But as they told their stories, we all stood in awe watching a different kind of bear encounter unfold: a young boar, a sow with two cubs, and two other boars crossing the B-Bar Ranch pasture.

The duality of our relationship with this place was on full display in that moment - the deep appreciation, respect, and fascination people have for these animals, alongside the very real ways humans interact with and impact them. It brought to mind a question that head honcho Malou Anderson often poses: “How do we stop people from loving this place [the TMB] to death?”

Hard at work putting up management signs at the bear spot.

I don’t think any of us know the answer, but a good first step is education and involvement. Recently, Annabelle and I dug a large roadside hole (glamorous, I know) and placed a sign with a QR code that links you here.

Essentially, we are hoping to provide information to visitors, whether returning or first-timers, that sparks a pause. A consideration of what our roles are in this pivotal ecosystem. Whether we are on foot, on horseback, or in a vehicle, third-generation or just discovering this place for the first time, we all have a responsibility for its stewardship. Please come here with questions and curiosity. You can find more info about the Tom Miner Basin Association and our contact here.