Mauling will hurt bear recovery

billings gazette ^ | 10/12 | associated press

[from occupied ga]

MISSOULA - The leading expert on grizzly bear recovery in the northern Rockies says a bear mauling in Alaska a week ago was prompted by irresponsible behavior, and could cause big setbacks for grizzlies everywhere.

Wildlife author and filmmaker Timothy Treadwell, known to cavort with wild bears, was found dead Monday in an Alaska preserve. His girlfriend, Amie Huguenard, was also mauled to death.

Two bears were then later shot by Alaska State Troopers investigating the scene.

Experts say Treadwell was long ago warned he should stop playing with wild bears, because it was dangerous for both him and the bears.

He didn't stop, and other filmmakers began to mimic him documenting their own up-close encounters with grizzlies in Alaska and in Glacier and Yellowstone national parks.

Bear biologists said Treadwell didn't need to die, not if he would have followed standard rules for staying out of the way of wild bears.

"People shouldn't see this incident as representative of the behavior of wild bears," said Chris Servheen, grizzly bear-recovery coordinator for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in the northern Rocky Mountains.

"There is a lot more to it than that. This whole incident could have been avoided; it's a tragedy all the way around."

Increasing fear of bears works against efforts to protect and recover healthy populations of grizzly bears in the northern Rocky Mountains, biologists said.

Sterling Miller, senior wildlife biologist with the National Wildlife Federation, said he's found that whenever a bear injures or kills someone in Alaska, there is a corresponding increase in the number of bears killed "in defense of life and property."

"Many years ago, I told (Treadwell) that if he were injured or killed, a lot of bears would be killed as well," Miller said. "But he just wouldn't hear of it. He was very naive."

Treadwell was known to make camp in dense brush on trails thick with grizzlies, pressing in close as the bears grazed in deep meadows or fished the coastal salmon runs, breaking every rule the rangers imposed.

"The future of the grizzly bear will be built on the responsibility and ethics of the people who live, work and recreate in grizzly bear habitat," Servheen said.

[from occupied ga]

Increasing fear of bears works against efforts to protect and recover healthy populations of grizzly bears in the northern Rocky Mountains, biologists said.

Oh how astounding! When people are reminded that bears are dangerous animals that consider people to be food, then they don't get as all warm and mushy over the prospect of inflicting them on the populace as do the "recovery experts" who apparently want bears and wolves running around eating people and livestock.

Sterling Miller, senior wildlife biologist with the National Wildlife Federation, said he's found that whenever a bear injures or kills someone in Alaska, there is a corresponding increase in the number of bears killed "in defense of life and property."

Oh no can't have people defending their "life and property" if it interferes with an animal can we. Once of the many reasons not to contribute to the National Wildlife Federation

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[Mike Darancette]

Treadwell was an Idiot, his anthropomorphism (trying to whisper sweet nothings to the animals he was stalking) got him and his squeeze dead.

[sarasota]

My sentiments exactly.

[from occupied ga]

Treadwell was an Idiot

Absolutely - but there are a lot of people out there who hold similar idiotic beliefs about wildlife. They think bambi was a nature documentary, not a cartoon fantasy. The disney generation grows old but doesn't grow up.

[Leisler]

- Roast Bear recipe -
Cuisine: Russian
· Ingredients
500 g bear flesh
7 ea pork lard pieces
1 tb butter
1/2 c marinade (see the recipe of Marinade for Wild-Game)
greens
salt
*Note: If some of the units or abbreviations look unfamiliar to you, click here.

· Method
Wash the meat carefully, lard every slice lengthwise. Keep in marinade for 8-10 hours, turning regularly. Salt if needed. Put on a baking sheet, add a little of marinade, pour over melted butter and bake in well heated oven, sprinkling with meat juice regularly, for 2-2,5 hours.

Recipe source: Olga Timohina's collection.
Posted by Yuri Timohin http://www.ruscuisine.com

[from occupied ga]

I wonder if bears have a recipe for human.

[Lee Heggy]

Mark Twain once said that, "There's some things folks just have to learn by doing...picking up a cat by it's tail for instance."

[TrebleRebel]

We're all part of the great circle of life....

[FreedomPoster]

Idiot "bear expert" pings; who else was on those threads?

[.45MAN]

Looks to me like these two were charter members of the Darwin Club, and now have honorary eternal membership. At least in the future the bears won't have to worry about having these two causing them distress.

A reasonable and intelligent attitude toward wild carnivores should bring about a healthy enviorment.

I have no sympathy for those that know better but are driven by greed and stupidity..

[from occupied ga]

At least in the future the bears won't have to worry about having these two causing them distress

It appears that the most distress that these two caused might have been indigestion.

A reasonable and intelligent attitude toward wild carnivores should bring about a healthy enviorment.

Agreed. I can't understand why otherwise rational human beings would want to re-introduce wolves and bears into areas where the human population and usage is nothing like it was when said carnovores were common. Bears eat people and livestock when it's convenient. It's what they do - inherent in their nature. Wolves likewise. Anyone who wants to turn wolves loose in areas that are currently free of their predations is either a headcase, an obnoxious hypocritical a$$hole* or most likely both.

*I notice those who like the wolf program usually don't have any economic interest in the areas that they want to introduce these dangerous nusances to.

[sergeantdave]

This guy was an idiot waiting to happen. He watched too many Disney cartoons and was waiting to get a shot of a grizzly wearing a straw showman hat, twirling a cane and singing a Broadway ditty on a tree stump.

[Leisler]

- Bear recipe -
Cuisine: Bear
· Ingredients
Fresh Vegan lefty flesh , one or two.
Gortex or any upper end Yuppie fabric.
Red wine
marinade (see the recipe of Marinade for Wild-Game) leftys for a day or two, in stream or under rocks, until tender.
greens
salt ( found in packs, or look in tent )
*Note: If some of the units or abbreviations look unfamiliar to you, click here.

· Method
Wash the lefty carefully, lard every slice lengthwise. Keep lefty in stream for 8-10 hours, turning regularly. Salt if needed. Put on a baking sheet, add a little of marinade, pour over melted butter ( wait till they are cooking tofu burgers and attack then for the butter) and bake in well heated oven, sprinkling with meat juice regularly, for 2-2,5 hours.

[A. Patriot]

....and it sure didn't help the 2 bears that had to be shot while recovering these 2 "Darwin Award" candidates.

[Alas Babylon!]

A mauling? It was a predatory kill, with the intent to eat them (and they were, at least partially). A mauling is what you get when you cheer for the Red Sox in a Bronx barroom.

If it comes down to my life versus a budget gourmet bear dinner, I'll choose my life, if able. The writer is right about one thing. This should encourage folks that, when in bear country, be heavily armed!

[from occupied ga]

Cuisine: Bear ...

LOL!

[Tacis]

Hey, lighten up! These environmentalists meant well and had the best interests of the bears at heart. WE MUST PROTECT THE BEARS! Remember that!

We need a new law to protect the bears and ensure that an incident kike this doesn't happen again. ALL ENVIRONMENTALISTS WITHIN FIVE MILES OF A BEAR, BLACK OR BROWN, MUST WEAR A NUTRITION LABEL! The label would inform the bear of the fat, carb, and calorie content (estimated) of the idiot actually goosing the bear. This way the bear would be able to make an informed judgment about eating any given clymer.

[verity]

Phew! By your headline, I assumed a bear had been mauled! ;~)

[Post Toasties]

I usually go out of my way not to step on insects, but I have very limited tolerance for large carnivores that attack humans. If bears appear in my neck of the woods (and I live in the midst of a forested area), I will obtain a shotgun and use it, if need be.