Grizzly mom that mauled Yellowstone hiker euthanized after DNA links bear to 2nd hiker attack

WaPo ^ | October 4, 2011 | AP

[jazusamo]

BILLINGS, Mont. — A grizzly bear that fatally mauled a hiker in Yellowstone National Park was killed after DNA evidence linked the animal to the scene of a second hiker’s death a month later, a park official said Monday.

The decision to euthanize the 250-pound female bear was meant to protect park visitors and staff, Superintendent Dan Wenk said.

[Diana in Wisconsin]

I’m not convinced of that. You know the dangers when you’re in the woods and there are grizzly bears in the area. I don’t think Ranger Rick should be held responsible for every death caused by wild things. Yes, the DNR, or whoever is responsible should feel a little responsible, but I don’t think it’s something to sue the taxpayers over; but the family still may. *SHRUG*

What if a tree limb falls in the forest and conks someone on the head killing them? Do we burn down the forest?

We have idiots that fall off of our bluffs into the Wisconsin River all the time and die. Do we grind the bluffs down to a pile of sand so no one hurts themselves?

How about all the dopes that accidentally shoot themselves or others while deer hunting or have heart attacks shoveling snow or freeze to death ice fishing? (The latter usually involves alcohol, LOL!)

Nope. You play in Nature and/or around wild animals and you take your chances. My dog mixed it up with a coyote two weeks ago; her pretty Lab face has some nice gashes on it now...but I can’t stop her; she’s protecting her turf. I guess I could go coyote hunting, but I’ll wait until their fur is nice and thick and pretty and more valuable this winter..and I’ll make her a Coyote Hat to wear, LOL!

I’m a GREAT Dog Mom; everyone I know wants to come back as one of my dogs, LOL! :)

(And I’m just sayin’... ‘cuz we usually agree on most stuff; I was surprised we didn’t on this one.)

[dfwgator]

The bear did what bears do.

I agree, this is like putting a homeowner to death for protecting his house against an intruder.

[China Clipper]

Humans make their choices and ought to bear (no pun intended) the consequences for them too.

You know, I agree with you there. If people walk/jog/hunt/sight-see "fat dumb and stooo-pid" in areas where dangerous animals are KNOWN to be hanging out, without having any means of protecting themselves, perhaps they will get killed. That is a predators instinct, to kill. Animals have NO way of reasoning.

And man has a natural instinct for revenge. And they can reason. Which should have told them to stay out of the darn woods where there are killer bears in IN THE FIRST PLACE!!

[TigersEye]

I have spent a lot of time in the woods unarmed myself but I figure that's my choice. One of the reasons I like the woods is because its a place with wild animals, uncultivated plant life and unmanaged geography. I've never had many bad scrapes there because I am familiar with it and respect it and it is partly due to luck too.

But I wouldn't dream of suing anyone if an animal attacked me or the landscape or the weather got the best of me. That's part of the bargain and it's all my choice whether I go in unprepared, lightly outfitted or loaded for bear. Stupid or seasoned everyone should have to accept that as the reality of wild lands IMO. But I'm old and cranky about it.