General Discussion

leftyladyfrommo

(20,041 posts)

12. Bears are wild animals. They are unpredictable.

Tue Sep 23, 2014, 10:50 AM

Sep 2014

If you go into bear country you need to take the time to find out how to handle wild life encounters.

Remember the guy in Alaska who thought he knew all about bears. He and his girlfriend lived with them. He made wild life films of them. Got really close. Piece of cake. You just have to know bears.

And then he and his girlfriend were both attacked and killed by a bear.

They made the serious mistake of not respecting the wildness in these animals. They have different personalities. And they have bad and good days.

Any wild animal is dangerous just by the very nature of their being wild.

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College Student Killed in Rare Bear Attack While Hiking in NJ [View all] cali Sep 2014 OP

That sounds like a terrifying way to die. aikoaiko Sep 2014 #1

We need a bear patrol. AngryAmish Sep 2014 #2

+1 for Simpsons reference. nt Earth_First Sep 2014 #5

Glad you think this is funny! nt Logical Sep 2014 #15

Too soon? Glassunion Sep 2014 #24

The Number One threat to America IS bears! KamaAina Sep 2014 #20

their decision to run is probably what killed him. geek tragedy Sep 2014 #3

Agreed... Flyboy_451 Sep 2014 #4

Suburban NJ is not a recent intrusion BeyondGeography Sep 2014 #7

The intrusion of people into animal habitat Flyboy_451 Sep 2014 #11

As an Alaskan I had the following pounded into my head Drahthaardogs Sep 2014 #33

So sad. That is so rare that I wonder if there morningfog Sep 2014 #6

Five people split up and ran - which is exactly *not* what to do... LeftinOH Sep 2014 #8

It worked out for four of them. LisaL Sep 2014 #18

hehehe AngryAmish Sep 2014 #19

Bears. Straw Man Sep 2014 #23

I only know about bears in NJ by watching The Sopranos. Hassin Bin Sober Sep 2014 #31

Very sad. H2O Man Sep 2014 #9

A video example of standing your ground Shankapotomus Sep 2014 #10

Riiiiight. VScott Sep 2014 #21

This woman ain't got nothing Politicalboi Sep 2014 #27

No need to be concerned, they're just kittehs... only bigger. VScott Sep 2014 #36

Bears are wild animals. They are unpredictable. leftyladyfrommo Sep 2014 #12

The problem is, suburban New Jersey is not typical "bear country". Nye Bevan Sep 2014 #13

It might be really hard not to run. leftyladyfrommo Sep 2014 #14

And now any male bear meeting the description will be killed. Coventina Sep 2014 #16

this bear needs to be killed Drahthaardogs Sep 2014 #34

Why? Why shouldn't it see humans as prey? Coventina Sep 2014 #37

It is not "their" nature Drahthaardogs Sep 2014 #38

OK I will grant you that it is not usual for bears to prey on humans. Coventina Sep 2014 #41

Male black bears who silently stalk see a menu... Eleanors38 Sep 2014 #17

Wasp/hornet spray would work too. Jenoch Sep 2014 #25

Hadn't thought of that. Long-range, too. Eleanors38 Sep 2014 #29

Alaskan Fish & Game wildlife biologists say not to use wasp spray as a deterrent for bears. Zorra Sep 2014 #42

Thanks for the clarification. Jenoch Sep 2014 #43

Yep. It sounds like they were being stalked. Hassin Bin Sober Sep 2014 #32

Call Stephen Colbert quick! Initech Sep 2014 #22

They were also out hiking with granola.. Historic NY Sep 2014 #26

Isn't there a bear app Politicalboi Sep 2014 #28

Old joke: 2 guys running from a bear. Runner 1: Eleanors38 Sep 2014 #30

Alaskan version: Drahthaardogs Sep 2014 #39

Good one. I heard this one from a Siberian Russian: Eleanors38 Sep 2014 #40

RIP. Reading the article, it sounds like a predatory bear, hungry and looking for food at a time it uppityperson Sep 2014 #35