[marktwain]

An ax is a serious weapon, but a handgun works better.

[marktwain]

[Carry_Okie]

An ax is a serious weapon, but a handgun works better.

And leaves less probability the bear would die slowly from an infection, and her cubs to be eaten.

[No.6]

He didn’t have one. Perhaps he was “axing” the bear to wait? (har)

(Also axes rarely jam and don’t run out of ammunition.)

[Redcitizen]

Having an axe 🪓 is better than fighting with your bear hands.

[bobbo666]

In a pinch a tent pole will work, too. Just poke at eyes and don’t let it slap it away. A bear knows that if it is blinded it is doomed — no snack is worth that.

[EnderWiggin1970]

I'd guess the mamma bear felt her cubs were threatened by the combination of the man and his dog. The article doesn't say so, but if they got close to the cubs before seeing them and couldn't back away in time the mamma would naturally react aggressively. Dogs are often a complicating factor in situations like this, barking or approaching the bear and making things worse.

I accidentally treed a bear cub some years ago in the Smokies. I thought it was cute for a second, looking down on me, until the hair stood up on the back of my neck. I scurried back down the trail as the bushes rustled behind me. For lack of any better idea I stood well back and belted out the Star Spangled Banner at the top of my lungs to let the bears know I was well away from them. (Fortunately no other hikers arrived to witness this ;-)