Old Ephraim facts for kids
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| Species | Grizzly bear |
|---|---|
| Sex | Male |
| Nation from | United States |
Old Ephraim is a famous name for grizzly bears, especially in the old American West. It was also the name of a very large and well-known grizzly bear. This specific Old Ephraim was sometimes called "Old Three Toes" by shepherds. This was because one of his feet had a unique shape. He lived in the Cache National Forest in Idaho and Utah. Old Ephraim roamed this area from about 1911 until he died on August 22, 1923.
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Frank Clark and the Famous Grizzly Bear
The grizzly bear known as "Old Ephraim" in the Cache National Forest was first noticed because of his very unique footprints. This huge bear lived in a large wild area. His territory stretched from Soda Springs, Idaho in the north to Weber County in the south. Later, he settled mostly in Logan Canyon, which is about 20 miles east of Logan, Utah.
Frank Clark was a shepherd who worked in the Cache National Forest. He arrived there in July 1911. During his first summer, Clark counted many domestic sheep that bears had killed. He realized that a large grizzly was causing a lot of trouble for the sheep herds.
In 1914, Frank Clark decided to try and stop Old Ephraim. He set many traps in places where the bear liked to rest. However, Old Ephraim was very smart. He would always remove the traps, or make them not work, or even throw them away. Clark rarely saw the bear, but he knew Old Ephraim was still around because more sheep kept disappearing. Despite Clark's best efforts, Old Ephraim continued to kill sheep. It is said that he once killed 50 sheep in a single attack.
The Final Encounter
Frank Clark had been trying to stop Old Ephraim since 1914. But he did not succeed until 1923. On the night of August 21, Clark woke up to very loud roars. Old Ephraim had been caught in a trap Clark had set earlier. The trap was in a muddy area just below Clark's camp.
Clark quickly grabbed his .25-35 rifle. This rifle was quite small for such a huge grizzly bear. He and his dog went down a small valley towards the trapped bear. Old Ephraim was very angry and had the big bear trap on one of his front paws. He was dragging a heavy log that Clark had attached to the trap with a chain. Clark shot the bear five times, but Old Ephraim did not fall. Clark then had to run back towards his camp. Clark's dog bothered Old Ephraim, which Clark believed might have saved his life.
Because the wounded and angry bear was so close to his camp, Clark spent the rest of the night on a ridge above his camp with his dog. He listened as the great bear roared through the night. Eventually, the roars became weaker and then stopped. When the sun came up, Clark went to check. He found the huge bear lying dead near his camp. Clark later said that killing Old Ephraim was "the hardest" of all the bears he had faced. He also felt sad about having to do it.
A Special Memorial
After Old Ephraim died, his skin was removed, and he was buried. Later, a group of Boy Scouts from Troop 43 dug up his remains. They sent the bear's skull to the Smithsonian Institution, a famous museum. According to Frank Clark, the Boy Scouts also built a pile of stones over the bear's burial spot. Over time, many of the bear's remains were taken by tourists as souvenirs.
Years later, a tall stone monument was placed at the grave site. It was designed and built by Max, Arthur, and Howard Jorgensen. This memorial was officially dedicated on September 23, 1966. Two special plaques are attached to the monument. One of them has a poem that says:
Old Ephraim, Old Ephraim, Your deeds were so wrong yet we build you this marker and sing you this song. To the king of the forest so mighty and tall, we salute you, old Ephraim the king of them all
—Nephi J. Bott
When he died, Old Ephraim was about 10 feet tall and weighed around 1100 pounds. His skull was sent to The Smithsonian. There, experts confirmed he was a grizzly bear. The skull was later returned from the Smithsonian. Today, you can see it on display at the Utah State University library in Logan, Utah.
Old Ephraim's Legacy
Old Ephraim's story lives on in many ways.
The Old Ephraim Trail
The Old Ephraim Trail is a popular bike trail near Logan, Utah. It is a 20-mile loop that goes up and down hills. This trail is best for intermediate or advanced riders. The loop starts with a climb up Cowley Canyon. It then goes through aspen groves and meadows. After passing Old Ephraim's grave, it goes down to the Right Fork of Logan River. There is one more big climb where you can see beautiful views of the Mt. Naomi Wilderness. The trail ends on the Willow Creek Trail.
The Bear 100 Mile Endurance Run
The Bear 100 Mile Endurance Run is a very long race. It starts near Logan, Utah, and ends in Fish Haven, Idaho. This race is a 100-mile ultramarathon through the Wasatch and Bear River Ranges. It is known as one of the most difficult 100-mile races. But it is also considered one of the most beautiful, especially in September when the leaves change colors. The male and female winners of this race receive the Old Ephraim award.
Other Tributes
A life-size bronze statue of Old Ephraim stands along U.S. Route 89 as it enters Montpelier, Idaho. The first statue was put up in 2002. In 2014, it was replaced with a new sculpture. This new statue shows Old Ephraim fighting against a bear trap.
In 2003, a military company called B Company, 16th Signal Battalion, 3rd Signal Brigade, adopted Old Ephraim's name. They were called the "Grizzlies." They used Old Ephraim's name as their company motto. They wanted to represent the same fighting spirit as the famous bear. The company even gave out an "Old Ephraim Award" every year. This award went to the soldier who best showed Old Ephraim's fighting spirit. The soldiers in the company voted for the winner.
