Bear Kills Teen Runner: It Should Have Been a Defensive Gun Use

Gun Watch ^ | 20 June, 2017 | Dean Weingarten

[marktwain]

A 16-year-old was killed by a black bear on a organized race in Alaska yesterday, on 19 June, 2017.  The runner had plenty of time to use a defensive firearm.  He had called family members to text them that he was being chased by a bear. From adn.com:

The runner had apparently made it to the halfway point turnaround and was on his way down when he used his phone to text a family member at 12:37 p.m. that he was being chased by a bear, Precosky said. The family member approached Precosky, who was then in the middle of handing out awards.

"I went off and talked to him about it, trying to get a straight story," Precosky said. "He was very shaken and had received this communication."

A search was launched immediately, Precosky said. The family member had GPS coordinates from the missing runner's phone that helped guide searchers to the area where his phone was. But the searchers, including runners that were part of the race, couldn't get closer.

This has all the hallmarks of predatory black bear attack.  The attack was well  telegraphed, because the runner had time to phone and text people about it. After the runner was killed, the bear stayed near the body and would not allow rescuers near it.  The bear was finally driven off when a park ranger shot it in the face with a shotgun slug, wounding it.

Black bears usually break off an attack when serious resistance is encountered. Black bears in predatory mode do not want to risk a serious wound. For a wild animal, a serious wound is often fatal.

The runner was able and willing to carry a cell phone. They could easily have carried a Ruger LCP, which weighs about as much.

There was a time when most people in Alaska knew that wild places had risks associated with them.  It should have been a defensive gun use. From adn.com

"This young man didn't do anything wrong. He was just in the wrong place," Crockett said. "You can't predict which bear is going to be predatory."

Exactly so. Which is why prudent people carry arms.

 A hiker killed a charging brown bear on the trail in 2013, with an AK74.

©2017 by Dean Weingarten: Permission to share is granted when this notice and link are included.

Gun Watch

[Blue Jays]

"...personal best finishing time..."

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Gallows humor aside, too bad the kid did not concentrate on survival rather than taking time/attention to text.
It is simply a horrible tragedy and we can be sure no local treehuggers will come forth in his area to say anything about it. :-(

[Texas Fossil]

different chambered? Or totally different.

[Texas Fossil]

Thanks.

I was not familiar with it.

More like our AR15 (M16) round.

[Blue Jays]

Yes, you are correct.
AK-47 and AK-74 are chambered in totally different calibers.
They both have their fans

[Texas Fossil]

I did a search and saw the details. As per model number? AK-47 was implemented in 1947 and AK-74 in 1974. That makes sense. Many things don’t.

From the performance specs it appears the AK-74 is pretty close to M-16 performance levels (range & accuracy) . Not quite but close.

There is a big difference in weight. With full ammo load.

I still prefer heavier projectiles. Speed is not everything and it induces some bullet instability problems. It is a balance issue.

[Seruzawa]

When tasering Moose keep an eye out for Squirrel.