With all the important stuff on the news lately (Balloon Boy, White House party crashers, etc.) you may have missed a 'news feed' filler story from last Spring.
It seems there were a couple of Lepidoptera experts from the late Eastern Communists countries of Poland and Czechoslovakia. Now, some of you may doubt the veracity of this story, but you can check the reports in the <
Lepidopterist Society> publications.
Anyway, these two scientists had studied virtually every species of butterfly in their respective countries (and several others) but they sincerely wanted to study one species of Lepidoptera found only in Yellowstone National Park. Unfortunately, 20 years ago, it was difficult to get approval from their governments, at least from both at the same time. Usually the Polish scientist would get travel approval and the Czech wouldn't. Or, the Czech would and the other one wouldn't. This went on for over ten years, until, finally, both the Polish and Czech governments agreed to allow both scientists to travel to the USA at the same time.
To make a long story short, the extremely happy (and obviously patient!) scientists, made their way to Yellowstone. They immediately contacted the Park Headquarters and explained their mission.
To their utter dismay, the officials stated, in no uncertain terms, that a study just after the Winter thaw would be unacceptable due to the extremely hungry and dangerous Grizzly bears coming out of hibernation! The Czech complained that it had taken over ten years to arrange this trip and that they must return to their countries within two weeks! The park rangers refused to allow them to enter the wilds alone and they just didn't have the personnel to spare to accompany and protect them. Still, the Czech begged, pleaded, complained, and harassed the rangers until they finally got permission to enter the park! But they were given a cell phone and told to report three times a day (morning, noon and evening) so the rangers would know they were still OK.
Gratefully, the Pole and Czech set out the very next morning to begin they study of the unique butterfly of Yellowstone National Park. They made a camp near the species nesting/over-Wintering site and expectantly awaited their exit from dormancy. Of course, they faithfully called back to park headquarters three times a day, usually the Czech made the calls as he had better English.
About five days after the scientists left for their study, they failed to call one morning. Concerned as they were, the rangers decided to wait for the noon checkin. When they again failed to hear from the Czech, they decided it was time to find out what had happened!
Within two hours, the rangers had found the camp of the two scientists, but they were frightened to find it covered with torn tents, scattered equipment and, worst of all,
blood! The rangers instinctively knew what had happened and began a search for a Grizzly! Before they could even leave the camp of the Pole and the Czech, however, they were greeted by two snarling, horrendous, and angry bears! Their only choice was to shoot and kill both Grizzlies.
The first one they got to still had blood around its mouth and the rangers felt sure that these two bears were the villains, or at least this one was, especially since it was a female and probably had cubs to feed. To be completely positive, they cut the female's stomach open. Sadly, there was the body parts of the Polish guy, as well as the cell phone (still in working order, amazingly!). Of course, this could mean only one thing...
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...the Czech was in the Male.
Wishing I could take credit for this, I actually heard this story, not from the Lepidopterists but from <Click and Clack, the Car Guys> last Saturday morning.
