Bear attack--1 dead--2 injured

[R.C.Reichert]

How about fine and ban people caught littering and throwing food and garbage around from entering the park...or people caught feeding bears for that matter. Just a week ago I went camping to the mountains and spent half my time picking up garbage and beer bottles left by ignorant people. Limit the amount of disrespectful idiots that enter the park and you will also have less bear attacks. No need to kill more bears. Humans are the problem, not the bears. That's my opinion.

BTW, I'm not an animal activist or anything like that, I just don't like the "just kill em to elliminate the problem" mentality. Kinda reminds me of the movie Jaws where people started becoming so scared and paranoid of shark attacks they all jumped into their boats and went on a big shark killing spree. Bears have a right to live just as anyone.

 

[philwar]

Having never camped in bear country, here's a question for those of you who have, or know something about this subject: how effective would one or two good sized dogs be to have with you, both to alert you and to distract the bear?
I understand dogs cannot fight a bear and hope to live, but perhaps they could distract it and still get away safely?

 

[LMT66]

Having never camped in bear country, here's a question for those of you who have, or know something about this subject: how effective would one or two good sized dogs be to have with you, both to alert you and to distract the bear?
I understand dogs cannot fight a bear and hope to live, but perhaps they could distract it and still get away safely?

I know I've read on Park websites that it's not advised to hike with a dog in back country but I think a dog would be an early warning system for a sleeping camper.
Bear hunting guides regularly use them. A few dogs will keep a bear quite busy.

I would imagine that a tent somewhat shields your scent and obviously your form. Bear wanders in your camp overnight, has a hint of some scent, possibly food and human but all is quiet. Approaches the tent cautiously then gets a big whiff of you along with a loud snore or fart and he freaks out and attacks the tent.

 

[LMT66]

No need to kill more bears. Humans are the problem, not the bears. That's my opinion.
BTW, I'm not an animal activist or anything like that, I just don't like the "just kill em to elliminate the problem" mentality. Kinda reminds me of the movie Jaws where people started becoming so scared and paranoid of shark attacks they all jumped into their boats and went on a big shark killing spree. Bears have a right to live just as anyone.

I agree that humans are a big contributor to the problem but when there are too many bears and not enough natural food for the existing numbers, they get stressed and seek out alternatives. Break into cars, homes, and attack and sometimes kill people. There are years when their natural food is abundant and years it isn't.
Their numbers need to be managed better than they are now but big money is spent by animal-rights groups and such to prevent increases in tags.
Kind of backwards thinking to me.

Managing wildlife populations makes for healthier wildlife and less stress on the natural food supplies they prefer. That is not a "Kill em All" attitude.
Managing wildlife also conditions them to avoid humans. That's good for us and them.

I'd like the bear tag numbers increased, especially in areas where people frequent, so that it gets to the point where the human scent is associated with burning powder from a discharged firearm instead of food.
This would help us and them.

 

[fishiker]

Earlier this month we stayed at a campground that had bear warning signs posted along with regulations for food storage. The first morning there I got up early for a short hike before it got too hot. I could not believe the food that was available in the campsites. I would say three out of four sites had food just sitting on a picnic table and many food containers were opened. No reports of bears but I could not believe how careless so many campers were. It’s terrible that someone lost their life and bad that the bears may be blamed for following their instincts.

 

[Guyon]

I remain doubtful that either the can of pepper spray (from inside a tent?) would be effective against a determined bear attacker, nor most handguns unless you could pull off a perfect headshot at point blank range just prior to being bolled over.

That's why I posted....

The only defense at 4 am would be something like this...

It's a portable/packable bear fence that relies on electrical shock to deter bears from coming near your tent.

 

[R.C.Reichert]

I agree that humans are a big contributor to the problem but when there are too many bears and not enough natural food for the existing numbers, they get stressed and seek out alternatives. Break into cars, homes, and attack and sometimes kill people. There are years when their natural food is abundant and years it isn't.
Their numbers need to be managed better than they are now but big money is spent by animal-rights groups and such to prevent increases in tags.
Kind of backwards thinking to me.

Managing wildlife populations makes for healthier wildlife and less stress on the natural food supplies they prefer. That is not a "Kill em All" attitude.
Managing wildlife also conditions them to avoid humans. That's good for us and them.

I'd like the bear tag numbers increased, especially in areas where people frequent, so that it gets to the point where the human scent is associated with burning powder from a discharged firearm instead of food.
This would help us and them.

Well said, and I agree.:thumbup: I can certainly understand the need to keep the numbers of predator versus prey in balance, and a well regulated hunting program would be a good way to do that. I just wouldn't want to see people go crazy with it to the point where we have no more grizzly or black bear. Humans unfortunately, have a history when it comes to that sort of thing.

 

[Guyon]

Here's a link for at least one maker of these bear fences for backpacking & camping.

http://www.udap.com/bearshock.htm

Runs off two D batteries. There was an article in this month's Field and Stream (or maybe it was Outdoor Life) where the author wrote about a rafting and fishing trip into the Alaskan back country, and they used one of these devices.

 

[HJK]

Many attacks take place in national parks where hunting bears and even carrying guns aren't allowed. Two friends of mine were in a tent in Ellesmere island when a polar bear got into their tent early one morning. Without their gun, ready in the tent, they would have been dead. Until then I didn't know you could kill a polar bear with a handgun. You can, if it's point blank in the face.

 

[HJK]

Having never camped in bear country, here's a question for those of you who have, or know something about this subject: how effective would one or two good sized dogs be to have with you, both to alert you and to distract the bear?
I understand dogs cannot fight a bear and hope to live, but perhaps they could distract it and still get away safely?

Dogs are an excellent early warning system for bears ( although you don't want them chasing or harrassing cubs). They can also distract and deter some bears. But they can also make a nice light snack.

 

[BryFry]

Dogs are an excellent early warning system for bears ( although you don't want them chasing or harrassing cubs). They can also distract and deter some bears. But they can also make a nice light snack.

I've never been in polar bear country, but I watched a special about the native peoples there who relied heavily on their dogs for both transportation and protection (amongst other things) And they actually showed footage of a few of these dogs facing down a large polar bear. To great effect, none the less!

The dogs appeared to be too fast and clever to be touched by the bear. They were darring enough to zip and weave right through the bears legs and nip it as they went past. The bear finally got discouraged and ran off. Very cool to watch, those dogs were pretty bad ass though. -Not sure how well one of our city breed dogs would have faired, but it is at least possible for dogs to best a bear. Which is good to know, I guess.

 

[Yorkshire Boy]

The only defense at 4 am would be something like this...

I wonder if your authorities could build very large versions of these? Big enough to go around a fixed campsite? Sort of like a non-lethal shark net but for bears.

 

[Mentor]

Looks like one of the survivors was from here in Ontario.

From CBC

An Ontario woman who was attacked by a bear at a Montana campground says she was bitten on her arm and leg before she instinctively played dead so the animal would leave her alone.

At least one bear rampaged through a heavily occupied campground Wednesday near Yellowstone National Park in the middle of the night, killing a man and injuring Deb Freele of Ontario and another man.

Freele said on Thursday's network morning talk shows that she wants to thank the people in the next campground who helped rescue her after the bear left the area.

Freele is a frequent camper who says she's ready to go camping again despite the trauma.

Wildlife officials were trying to capture the bear late Wednesday.

 

[bearcut]

There is more to this story than the report shows I’m sure. Bears don’t just “go postal”. Food, cubs or some type of idiotic behavior was no doubt involved, (past or present). I’m not saying that bears can’t be vindictive. The bear may have been PO’d that the campground was suddenly cleaned up and his easy garbage supply was gone. Perhaps the tent occupants were playing Metallica too loud and the bear couldn’t take it anymore. I simply doubt that the tent residents were soundly sleeping, and minding their own business, when a bear came out of nowhere and attacked them.

AK Fish and Game recently tested a Taser on a brown bear. (The kind that shoots darts, not the handheld)
It worked very well. However, AKF&G did not recommend the use of this device due to its obvious limitations.
The electric fence thingy was tested a couple years ago. The results were disappointing to say the least.

The general attitude up here is that if you feel the need to isolate your campsite with an electric fence, then maybe you should not be camping at all, if you’re that scared….

BTW, dogs tend to be a liability around bears. Dogs tend to act real tough until the bear starts mauling them. Then they run back to their owners with the furious bear, (or moose), in hot pursuit.

Some dogs can be trained to bait bears. Since almost nobody trains their dogs to do this, the idea that your dog will protect you is nonsense.

Don’t be fooled, if your dogs bark scares away a bear, the bear was never interested in you anyway.

 

[philwar]

Perhaps the tent occupants were playing Metallica too loud and the bear couldn’t take it anymore.

That would p1ss me off as well. :grumpy:

 

[WILLIAM.M]

That would p1ss me off as well. :grumpy:

Tents were smashed in the 4 a.m. attack that left a male dead at the Soda Butte campground

WHO THINKS THEY WERE PLAYING "ANYTHING" AT 4AM???

WOMAN SAID SHE WOKE UP WITH THE BEAR CHEWING ON HER ARM

 

[teacher]

I am not saying if I woke up with a bear chewing on me, I would rip out it's throat with my "bear" hands. I am saying that camping unarmed in bear country is stupid, and someone else in the campsite might have had a chance to kill the bear while it was mauling other people. Better to die with a gun in your hand than screaming "hit it with a frying pan."

+1 .. Well stated...... :thumbup:

 

[bearcut]

Tents were smashed in the 4 a.m. attack that left a male dead at the Soda Butte campground

WHO THINKS THEY WERE PLAYING "ANYTHING" AT 4AM???

WOMAN SAID SHE WOKE UP WITH THE BEAR CHEWING ON HER ARM

Look out, bears are just sneaking around looking for someone to attack.

That’s what they do.

They are the common criminal of the animal world.

There’s more to this story than the report shows. Betcha.

 

[philwar]

Tents were smashed in the 4 a.m. attack that left a male dead at the Soda Butte campground

WHO THINKS THEY WERE PLAYING "ANYTHING" AT 4AM???

WOMAN SAID SHE WOKE UP WITH THE BEAR CHEWING ON HER ARM

I was joking. Well I wasn't, loud Metallica at 4 am would INDEED p1ss me off, but I was joking about that being the bear's reason for attacking... Although, who could blame it?!

 

[Codger_64]

There is more to this story than the report shows I’m sure. Bears don’t just “go postal”. Food, cubs or some type of idiotic behavior was no doubt involved, (past or present). I’m not saying that bears can’t be vindictive. The bear may have been PO’d that the campground was suddenly cleaned up and his easy garbage supply was gone. Perhaps the tent occupants were playing Metallica too loud and the bear couldn’t take it anymore. I simply doubt that the tent residents were soundly sleeping, and minding their own business, when a bear came out of nowhere and attacked them.

People have been prey to large predators for as long as there have been people on this continent. Bears, every species of them, are first and foremost predators, omnivores. As we have reintroduced bears and other large predators, and protected them allowing their numbers to expand, so have the number of conflicts between large predators and people.

The responses of most people to incidents such as this one vary widely, as one might expect. From "kill them and let God sort them out" to "It wasn't the bear's fault, those people must have done something wrong to provoke an attack". IMHO, the bear was doing what bears do, where bears normally do it. News flash: Bears are NOT people too. Bears do not have rights other than the limitations placed upon people by the government agencies charged with management of this wildlife resource.

People will be stupid in bear territory, that is a fact. Bears are also capable of being stupid in people territory. Another fact. What people consider normal and reasonable human behavior can and sometimes does lead to conflicts with bears (and othr large predators). What bears consider normal and instinctive behavior sometimes leads to conflicts with people.

Parks and campgrrounds in areas inhabited by bears may not be a good idea. So what is the solution? Remove the bears? Remove the people? Educate both the bears and the people? Accept the depredation on people as normal and continue present policies?

I recently watched several films showing "stupid human tricks" that resulted in attacks by wildlife, Bison in this case. In all of these, people simply failed to realize that the animals were not cartoon charactors, and not jersey cows. In these, the did obviously behave foolishly and provoke the bison, defying established regulations designed to minimize conflicts between park visitors and the animals.

Present policy is to destroy any bear that attacks a human for any reason, their fault, human's fault, or nobody's fault. This policy recognizes the fact that human life has more value than that of a bear.

http://www.myfoxny.com/dpp/news/national/bison-attacks-woman-at-yellowstone-20100723