Re: [Paddlewise] Bears

Michael Edelman wrote:
>> Predatory bear behavior is rare 
> 
> That's the received wisdom I was always taught. Turns out it's not quite 
> accurate. I was always taught here in Michigan that Black bears will 
> absolutely not attack humans, that all attacks were feints that would 
> stop short, and that any noise would scare them off. 

I tend to regard most pieces of advice that include the words "absolutely," 
"all," and "any" with some skepticism.

> Then I started to 
> hear first hand stories of people attacked and chased by bears. And 
> this, from a Yellowstone information page: "On average, 3 people a year 
> are killed and eaten by black bears in North America."

Assuming you meant web page, how about posting the URL? I ask because I just 
googled "bear fatalities" (and got lots of references to dead bears) and looked 
at this page http://www.wa.gov/wdfw/wlm/game/blkbear/blkbear4.htm put up by the 
Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife. They say "In North America 
approximately 45 fatalities have been attributed to black bears since 1900. More 
than half of those fatalities have happened since 1970." That's not 3 people a year.

The only first hand report I can offer is the time my wife and I were hiking in 
the Smokies with the kids, who were maybe 5 and 10 y.o. They were about 50 yards 
up the trail from us, in full view, when an adolescent black bear walked onto 
the trail between us and them. For sure, chase behavior ensued. And if that bear 
had been any slower, my kids' Mama would have kicked his butt good. So don't get 
between a mama and her cubs, even if you're a bear.

-- 
Steve Cramer
Athens, GA
A supporter of the right to arm bears.

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