Re: [Paddlewise] Paddlewise: Grizzlies in Desolation Sound?

Allison Corning wrote:
> 
> Dave Said...
> "Mind you, all of these interactions were with bears which were **not**
> habituated to associate humans with food they like to eat.  Bears which are
> habituated to seek out human encampments as a food source are very different
> in their behavior."
> 
> Absolutely something good to keep in mind...my only bear encounters(here in
>SNIP< He must have developed a fondness for Doritos and beer from
> previous campers. Sadly, once bears begin to make habits of certain
> campgrounds , they often end up destroyed(according to the ranger who showed
> up that evening)
> That said, the insane reaction of fellow campers in the campsite to the
> presence of the bear, and the realization that habitual and irresponsible
> use of campgrounds in bear country is leading to the creation of many more
> "bad bears" has made me vow to never again use a large public campground. I
> have been camping for years in bear areas-every time I have hung my food and
> taken special precautions, and I've never even seen a footprint in the
> morning...
> 
> Sorry if this is a bit of a digression...
> 
>

All very good advise! No matter how careful you are with your cooking and 
food stuff, you just may end up in the area that other less carefull 
campers have used, and have a bear problem because of that.

Having spent many a day(and night)in prime grizzly country(Canada and 
Alaska), I have only had one insident with a grizzly that turned out 
badly, and that might have been differant if my wife and 2 year old son 
hadn't been with me. Even with that, I'll take "wild" grizzlys everytime 
over camp smart black bears anytime.

http://www.missoulian.com/display/inn_montana_news/news1.txt
http://www.dailyinterlake.com/main_story.html-ssi

This guy had hiked amoung grizzlys for 20 years and had no problem. 
Likely got careless.?

James

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