Wakened from sleep in a tent at the Russian River Campground early Saturday, Chicago tourist Daniel Kuczero didn't consider the possibility that a grizzly bear tugging at the nylon woke him.
He figured it had to be a dog he heard outside in the 4:30 a.m. stillness, witnesses say.
Then the animal collapsed the tent on him.
That, according to Russian River campground manager Butch Bishop and others, was the first indication Kuczero had that the animal probably wasn't a dog. Kuczero apparently decided the best thing to do was play dead.
He changed his mind when the bear grabbed his body -- still wrapped up in a sleeping bag inside the tent --
That was enough to start Kuczero screaming.
"When it bit him in the shoulder," Dunn said, "he yelled."
by CRAIG MEDRED
Anchorage Daily News
Bear attacks close portions of Kenai, Russian rivers
Details are still unfolding for two separate bear maulings — one in Soldotna and another in Cooper Landing — that occurred this weekend.
Another Saturday morning attack resulted in a hospital visit for an Anchorage man.
At 2 a.m. Saturday, Alaska State Troopers received a report that a mauling victim was taken to the Emergency Room of the Central Peninsula General Hospital in Soldotna.
http://www.peninsulaclarion.com/stories/073006/news_0730new002.shtml
Ping :~)
My tent has been attacked by field mice at night. They make quite a racket as they sort through your stuff.
Rather than ban campers, how about explaining proper food storage. I've been around bears in tents without any trouble. And I've been in "hard shells" and they've been curious, including a houseboat they climbed all over. They're giant racoons, they're not afraid of humans in areas they're frequently exposed to (non hunting) humans, and if you smell like food they're going to visit.