Another bear attack...

[Preacherman]

From the Kansas City Star (http://www.kansascity.com/mld/kansascity/news/breaking_news/6266756.htm):

Posted on Wed, Jul. 09, 2003

Black Bear Attacks Sleeping Utah Camper
RICH VOSEPKA
Associated Press

SALT LAKE CITY - A black bear tried to drag a teenager out of his sleeping bag as he and other campers slept under the stars in a remote canyon - the first bear attack in Utah in 11 years, officials said.

Nick Greeve, 18, of West Linn, Ore., was treated for puncture wounds and lacerations at a hospital in Price and released, officials said. The animal grabbed him by the head and neck, but the other campers chased the bear away after hearing Greeve's screams.

Wildlife officers tried to find the bear to kill it, but the animal apparently had left the area, said Bill Bates, southeastern region wildlife manager for the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources.

Greeve was part of a group of 15 campers and five instructors from the Utah Outdoor Leadership School who were sleeping in the open early Monday in the canyon about 120 miles southeast of Salt Lake City.

"Bear attacks like this are extremely rare, but they do occur," said Craig McLaughlin, mammals coordinator for the Division of Wildlife Resources.

The group was on an 80-mile, four- to five-day float trip on the Green River.

Bruce Palmer, executive director of the National Outdoor Leadership School headquarters in Wyoming, said it was the first time he had heard of a bear attacking one of the school's groups. The school, founded in 1965, specializes in whitewater rafting trips in areas including Alaska, the Pacific Northwest, Chile and New Zealand.

"We do operate in remote areas. There's a whole variety of risks," Palmer said.

Greeve was on his way home to Oregon on Wednesday.

 

[4v50 Gary]

Brings to mind Gary Larson's The Far Side cartoon with two bears looking at campers sleeping peacefully in their sleeping bags. Says one bear to another, "Sandwiches!"

 

[gun-fucious]

or the igloo one

"crunchy on the outside & chewy in the middle"

The kid obviously did not make a big circle of rope around his bivy

 

[TallPine]

"Bear attacks like this are extremely rare, but they do occur," said Craig McLaughlin, mammals coordinator for the Division of Wildlife Resources

So how come I keep hearing that statement more and more lately ...?

 

[BenW]

So how come I keep hearing that statement more and more lately ...?

Because people don't seem to grasp the concept of carrying capacity. New Jersey for example, where the Dept of Fish and Game wants to hold black bear hunts due overpopulation problems. Animal rights groups however, are fighting the hunt and proposing the answer to the problem is people covering their trash.

I find that hilarious. The horse is already out of the barn. You have too many bears, so as an animal rights protector you want to eliminate the problem by reducing their (artificial) food source. The excess bears take their time dying through starvation and disease. Not to mention that starving bears tend to do stuff, like attacking people, that healthy bears would normally not do. If I were a bear, I'd much prefer a quick death by bullet to slow starvation.

 

[4v50 Gary]

Sorry gun-fucious but the rope trick only works against rattlesnakes. Everybody knows that.

 

[gun-fucious]

nope it works for bears too
i can prove it cause i have never been eaten by a bear while sleeping

So what basic frontier skill is lacking when a bear gets first strike at yer unconcious head? Its prolly worth noting CroMagnon prolly didn't keep a bag o Fritos in his bed roll and fall asleep with a walkman on.

i would bet the rest of the kiddies kept closer to the campfire that night.

 

[mete]

I don't understand these things . A friend and I saw a pair of black bears today, one a very large one and they were only 15' away.We had no problem at all. We took some photos and they ambled off. I guess the trick is to not look like a ham sandwich.

 

[HBK]

If they are hungry, you are food.

 

[TallPine]

I don't understand these things . A friend and I saw a pair of black bears today, one a very large one and they were only 15' away.We had no problem at all. We took some photos and they ambled off. I guess the trick is to not look like a ham sandwich.

Yes, and how many times have you walked down the street without being robbed?

How many nights has your sleep not been interrupted by a home invasion?

How many times has your house caught on fire?

Prepare for the unexpected, not the normal. Bears are capable of causing serious injury or death to humans - they rarely do so, but it does happen.

 

[cooch]

cause i have never been eaten by a bear while sleeping

Hey Gun-Fu....
If you were asleep, how would you know?

Cheers........ Cooch

 

[Rebeldon]

Has anybody ever devised a way to ward off bears while you are peacefully feeding the mosquitoes?

 

[4v50 Gary]

The rope works against bullets. Some Paiute or Modoc medicine man encircled Capt. Jack's (War leader) Fort (Battle of the Lava Beds in No. Calif.) with the rope and the U.S. army soldiers didn't hit a single defender. If the Boxer Chinese knew this magic, they may have beaten the allies. Heck, we can sure use it now in Iraq.

 

[mete]

My comments were somewhat tongue in cheek. I know the behavior of black bears and have met a few close up. They do not in general pose a danger, attacks by black bears are rare. I've talked to a number of city types who are terrified and at that I just laugh. I usually carry a gun in the woods but the biggest danger is not the bear or coyote but the packs of feral dogs or the two legged animals.

 

[mete]

I saw on another forum that the kid in Utah that was attacked was wearing earphones and had an open bag of Fritos in the tent. That would explain it.

 

[cslinger]

I was just going to say how much do you want to bet the kid had food of some kind in his sleeping bag. I have always been taught that most bears will steer clear of humans unless they smell food or you get between the big ones and the cub.

I am not saying I don't feel bad for the kid I am just saying that when you are out in nature you need to respect mother natures rules.

Chris

BTW: Do you think that rope trick would work at my place of employment. There are a few people I want to ward off.

 

[gun-fucious]

um, i made a post in jest above about fritos & a walkman

either i am clairvoyant or the web urban legend mill is channeling THR

the rope trick does work for sleeping in yer office under yer desk