Makeshift flame-thrower deters bear

BUTTE — A Butte man had to use an improvised flame-thrower to scare a black bear off the roof of his camper.

Bruce and Pat Hemphill were in a campground 8 miles north of Butte when they awakened early on Aug. 5 to the camper shaking violently.

The bruin had climbed up on the hood of the truck onto the top of the camper. Bruce Hemphill saw the animal through the roof vent, where the bear was trying to claw into the camper despite attempts to shoo it away.

Thinking quickly, Hemphill grabbed an aerosol can of bug spray and a lighter and improvised a flame thrower. He sprayed fire toward the bear’s face, which forced the animal to flee.

Hemphill said he saw the bear a little while later, apparently unharmed, going through a nearby trash can.

The couple spent the rest of the night in the cab of their truck.

At least two black bear encounters were reported in the area recently where the animals wandered into houses.