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Posted on 06/19/2007 10:15:47 PM PDT by george76
The grandfather of a boy killed by a black bear while camping blamed the U.S. Forest Service Tuesday for not getting the word out about an earlier attack.
Before 11-year-old Sam Ives was attacked and killed Sunday night, the same bear had attacked campers in the same spot hours earlier.
Eldon Ives is the boy's grandfather. He told reporters Tuesday that he hoped the Forest Service will do a better job of protecting campers after Sam's death.
He said the violent way his grandson was killed is a sorrow that will never heal.
Sam Ives would have been a 6th grader this fall.
He was camping with his family in American Fork Canyon on Father's Day when a black bear dragged him from their tent and killed him.
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Does anyone know if there was food in the tent? And if so, did the Forest Service put it there?
This bear should have been removed by the forest service before the attack.
This was apparently a repeat offender. A problem bear.
Prayers for the boy’s family. I can’t imagine the heartbreak. It does seem logical that the campers should have been warned.
The forest service is primarily to blame for not letting campers bring rifles into the campground.
Hunting rules have been limited in many places.
The bears have been taught bad lessons.
You can remove attractants; you can warn the critters you’re there, but going into the wild without the means of protecting yourself is really, really stupid—as is the policy that sanctions this stupidity.
Why do people feel the need to blame someone else? If you camp in the woods with wild animals, there is a risk involved. Their loss is tragic, just suck it up and deal with it. Quit whining to the media. Whatever happened to suffering in silence?
Personally, I blame the tent manufacturers for not printing labels on their tents warning of possible bear attacks.
Liberals may also bring little brass bear bells to warn bears and lions to run away.
As Redcloak asked, “Does anyone know if there was food in the tent?”
Was their signs out in the open warning the cityfolk campers that they were in bear country and to suspend all foodstuffs in the air.
Fighting a bear for that cooler full of food is losing battle. Being stupid is probably the most common reason for bear attacks on people.
Yes, they should have been warned of this. Who would want to go to sleep in this spot? Yikes.
Your conclusion is the exact twin of mine.
“The stupid thing is to be in the wild and not have the means to protect yourself.”
The 100-pound elderly woman didn’t have a chance against a 275-pound bear in the kitchen of her home...
A 93-year-old New Mexico woman was mauled to death by a black bear that broke into her home over the weekend, stunned wildlife officials have confirmed. Adelia Maestas Trujillo of Cleveland, in north-central New Mexico, was killed “by multiple bite injuries,” ...
By Joe Garner
Scripps Howard News Service
August 21, 2001
Not just in the wilds :
She was a 5-foot-3, 105-pound hiker, out for a Sunday walk. He was a 400-pound hulking young bruin officials described as “predatory,” looking for a meal. She said he came up behind her on a trail in Wawayanda State Park in Sussex County, chased her down and tackled her. She said she did the only thing she could. She threw a hard elbow at his snout, and caught him flush, stunning the bear and giving her time to escape.
“This bear was in predatory mode,” said Jack Kaskey, a state Department of Environmental Protection spokesman. “This was classic predatory behavior. The bear was out to eat her. She had to fight for her life.”
Predatory Black Bear Attack
By Jim Lockwood
Newark Star Ledger
August 12, 2003
There are furry bears that walk on four legs and there are smooth skinned bears that walk on two legs. Not having the means to protect yourself is what I consider to be stupid.
My little 120 pound wife knows that her 12 guage Bennelli will take care of both types and she keeps it ready to go. She’s not stupid.
I guess what I find a little annoying about the “official” wildlife line is that it tends to build on platitudes like “they were here first,” and “we are visiting their home,” as though wild animals shared the same moral universe as human beings. It would be refreshing for the official line to be: “these are wild animals; they might kill you. Have a nice day.”
We agree : self defense is the best choice.
Every time I have ever been in a federal park I make sure that I have the means to protect myself from whatever is out there. Legal? Probably not but I’m still alive.
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