One Of The Last Grizzlies In Utah, Old Ephraim, Is Buried Near Logan
By Courtnie Erickson|Published December 14, 2021
×
Courtnie Erickson
Author
From Southern Utah to the Panhandle in Idaho, Courtnie Erickson has lived in what she believes are the best (and the most beautiful!) areas in the country. She graduated with a journalism degree from Utah State University and has more than 15 years of professional writing experience. You’ll likely see her with a Dr. Pepper in her hand and a pair of running shoes on her feet. Courtnie is a writer and editor at OnlyInYourState.
Utah is home to some incredible wildlife. As you travel throughout the Beehive State, you may see elk, foxes, deer, Bighorn Sheep, and even a moose or two. However, there is one particular animal with a remarkable story and an incredible size that will certainly amaze you — Old Ephraim. This grizzly bear dates back to the early 1900s and is considered one of Utah’s last (and largest) grizzly bears in the state. Today, you can visit his grave and pay respect to this magnificent creature.
Decades ago, grizzly bears were common animals in northern Utah, but today, they are not. It is believed that Old Ephraim was one of the last grizzly bears that roamed the Beehive State.
Many stories circulated about the size of this animal and all reports say he was no small bear. In fact, many who saw him claim he was a 9-foot, 11-inches-tall grizzly bear that weighed approximately 1,100 pounds.
However, it is believed the size of this bear was exaggerated. Today, experts believe Old Ephraim was 7-feet, 6.5-inches tall, and weighed approximately 550 pounds. While much smaller than the reports claim, he would still be significantly large compared to an average grizzly bear.
Advertisement
Due to the reports and size of this animal, many hunters sought after this grizzly bear in Utah. President Theodore Roosevelt even showed interest in hunting this gigantic creature. However, Old Ephraim was caught by Frank Clark in a bear trap near Clark's camp in northern Utah.
Clark was awakened in the night by the roar of the bear. When Clark checked his trap, he found the bear standing tall on his hind legs, ready to charge. Clark shot the bear multiple times before Old Ephraim finally fell to the ground.
The story says Clark buried Old Ephraim right where he fell. Unfortunately, many individuals have robbed and vandalized this grave, taking most of the remains of this famous grizzly bear in Utah.
Fortunately, some remains were saved and from 1923 until 1978, Old Ephraim’s skull sat on display at the Smithsonian. In the late 1970s, it was returned to Utah and housed in Utah State University’s Special Collections and Archives.
Today, you can visit a historic monument at his gravesite, just outside of Logan. On the monument is a poem written by Nephi Bott about Old Ephraim, the King of the forest. It is a terrific tribute to an incredibly large bear.
Did you know the story of Old Ephraim in Utah? Do you believe this grizzly bear was truly as large as the reports claim? We’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments.
If you want to learn about even more incredible stories and legends in Utah, check out our article on the legends of the Bear Lake Monster.
OnlyInYourState may earn compensation through affiliate links in this article. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.
