If those same officials make it impossible for the individual to protect themselves from bears then, yes, they should get sued if they fail to protect the public. Either authorize the carrying of large bore handguns and rifles or shoot every Grizzly in the parks, or just shut the parks down altogether. People expect to be safe in the parks, unreasonable as that sounds, because they have been led to believe they will be safe.
There is no waiver that a person signs when they go into Yellowstone that absolves the Park Service if the tourist happens to get killed by a Grizzly or other animal. At the very least the dangers of being in the park or, as in the most recent case, near the park should be made very clear to the public.
“There is no waiver that a person signs when they go into Yellowstone that absolves the Park Service if the tourist happens to get killed by a Grizzly or other animal. At the very least the dangers of being in the park or, as in the most recent case, near the park should be made very clear to the public.”
As a taxpayer, I don’t want “the government” to get into the defensive business of getting signed waivers from people going into parks.
I don’t want the lifeguards getting signed waivers from beach visitors, lest they get bit by sharks.
I don’t want the governments to be financially liable for “acts of God” which is what I think encounters with wildlife happen to be.
Signs are good. At the Grand Canyon, stay on the paths and don’t climb over the barriers to get a daring picture.
If a visitor gets bit or falls off the edge, it is their own responsibility, not that of the Park Service or taxpayers in general.
signing a waiver would do nothing.... Lawyers famously work around them. I am however surprised they don’t have signs warning you enter at your own risk.