sonny, or I'll box your ears!"
Posted on 11/19/2004 9:52:01 AM PST by d-back
The encounter last weekend between three bears and two Boy Scouts at a camp in Warren County was more harrowing than originally reported, as the bears pawed at the teenagers for an hour, bit one of them and attempted to bite the other, according to a report by state wildlife investigators.
The boys, who were later vaccinated for rabies, cowered on a rock as they fended off the two 60-pound cubs and the mother bear at the Yards Creek Scout Reservation in Blairstown on Saturday night, wildlife investigators said.
One of the boys was bitten twice by a cub. The animal first bit down on the boy's left arm -- leaving four scratch marks as the youth pulled away -- and then bit the boy's right hand, leaving three puncture wounds, according to a Division of Fish and Wildlife report obtained by The Star-Ledger on Wednesday. The second boy escaped injury when the second cub bit his coat sleeve -- but missed his arm -- and tried to pull him off the rock, the report said.
The state Department of Environmental Protection did not release the report until last night -- after being pressed by The Star-Ledger-- leaving officials from the Central New Jersey Council of the Boy Scouts to field questions about the incident. The council initially reported the incident as a brief, minor encounter with two bears, and said only one bear had "scratched" a scout's hand before the cubs ran off. . . .
(Excerpt) Read more at nj.com ...
I've had a similar experience, it's so similar I won't repeat it all, just that I was in Sterling Forest/Ringwood State Park border, came upon a mother bear and 3 cubs, walked slowly backward after having the cubs start fake charges, as I was walking on, I passed a group of Asian tourists, with 6 or 8 kids, when I told them they should turn around because there were aggressive bears a quarter mile down trail, they unzipped their stupid fanny packs, grabbed their cameras and kids, and took off down the trail. Toward the bears.
It's real simple: If someone wants to say a bear shouldn't be wandering around Denville, or Montclair, or Morristown, or Newark, or other urban and suburban, crowded areas, I'd say I agree. I would therefore open up a bear hunting season in those locations. Go hunt bears in Denville, house to house, Falujah style.
In the northwest part of the state--basically Scott Garrett's district--I believe a different standard should apply. I believe these areas should, in effect, be zoned for bears. Not til they freaking overrun the place. But until a balance is reached. And in my opinon, a bear encounter in the woods on a camping trip in Warren County doesn't represent a problem. To me, it is as it should be. The scouts should be better trained and supervised, but no one should be surprised or upset that bears live in the woods in northwestern NJ.
Sussex County's motto is People and Nature Together, and I believe in that. But I think that means that yes, certain parts of the state are more wild than others. I mean for crying out loud. You all sound like a bunch of scared housewives.
I'm not against controlling the bear population, I just disagree with what you all consider a problem.
Oh my goodness, what a drama queen.
BTTT
Essex County has always been a lost cause for the GOP. Its gotten worse since places like Bloomfield and Smell-ville, er, Belleville are no longer solidy Republican (to say nothing of affluent Glen Ridge).
Back to the issue at hand, when you see bears in Independence Park or Hamilton Park in JC, you know the problem has really gotten out of hand. Has the bear population spread our of the Highlands yet?
Camp Mohican? My dad (Eagle Scout) used to spend his summers there.
The bear spray supplements the .357 Magnum, loaded hot and heavy for bear.
BTTT
A friend of mine spotted a mountain lion in a park in Jefferson, northwest NJ. He is a former big game guide in Africa -- if he saw a mountain lion, I believe him -- many other people would confuse a big yellow lab with a mountain lion.
I believe him. He ought to know. The other sighting I know of was in Mahwah, New Jersey by two cops and there have been reports in the northern parts of Morris COunty New Jersey of sightings.
As the open farm lands are returned to second growth forests, and state and County parklands increase, and the number of deer continue to rise astronomically, the animals which prey on deer and find forested habitats attractive will return if they have not already been driven to extinction.
Cougars are secretive animals, and the remnants of eastern Cougar populations have long been suspected to exist in areas of Canada immediately north of, and adjecent to, the St. Lawrence and Great Lakes, and possibly the Adirondacks of New York State.
It would be interesting to do a genetic study on one of these creatures to see if they are really returning eastern cougars, or a population of recently established western Cougars.
In eithre case, a new an unfamiliar caution must be exercized by wanderers in our eastern forests - wanderers who, unlike the first settlers and Native Americans, are all too often barred from the carrying of weapons or unfamiliar with their use in critical situations.
There have been sightings in Trenton and as far away as Newark.
Once they reach the Pine Barrens, they will produce another large population there.
"It's real simple: If someone wants to say a bear shouldn't be wandering around Denville, or Montclair, or Morristown, or Newark, or other urban and suburban, crowded areas, I'd say I agree."
An adult male black bear can have a range as far as 30 miles. That brings a bear living in northwest Morris County or northern Passaic COunty within striking range of some pretty densely populated areas.
"..no one should be surprised or upset that bears live in the woods in northwestern NJ."
Centuries ago black bears were found everywhere in New Jersey - along with Wolves, Eastern Woods Buffalo and eastern elk.
By the 1800's most of the original forest land in the east had been clear-cut for farming or for the tanning and lumber trades and most large mamals were restricted to very remote areas.
Up until a few decades ago, one could wander most of northwest Jersey and never see a bear. The black bear population was restricted to the extreme northwest along th3e Delaware near High Point and the Water Gap.
Then the State ended its limited bear hunt.
Their numbers steadily increased until they have reached the problem stage they are at now. If hunting is not allowed in the huntable protions of the state where they currently range, they will spread out into forestred areas in places too densely populated to be hunted - like parklands in Essex County and Bergen County, etc.
Once they reach the Pine Barrens, they will create additional problems as that is still farmed with blueberries and cranberries and has some petty large towns.
I know I have seen less bears this year up in High Point where I live. There certainly were far fewer incidents this year. And by the way, I supported the hunt last year, even though I was concerned we'd kill too many. I didn't see or hear about or read about enough of a problem this year to warrant another hunt, but then, it's pretty easy to whoop up the suburbanites and get em all scared that a 300 lb bear is gonna eat their children.
Posted by Huck:
"...Oh my goodness [Blue Jays], what a drama queen..."
That is a very cute yet inane response to my narrative about my spouse and I encountering FOUR bears at the Delaware Water Gap while unarmed and far from the trailhead. We had not strayed from the marked footpath and were being careful to make sufficient noise when we chanced upon them.
My estimate of the mother bear we confronted was approximately 215-225 pounds. The three cubs were much smaller, probably 65-75 pounds. The fact-of-the-matter is that we inadvertently bisected one cub from an adult bear significantly larger, stronger, and faster than us. Any outdoor enthusiast worth his salt would tell you that is a disadvantageous situation in which to find oneself.
My sense is that you're either joking, or you've got anonymous Internet bravado regarding encounters with wild animals. Either way, I don't believe you're telling the entire truth about how you effortlessly handle bears without breaking a sweat. Otherwise more-pedestrian animal meetings, like a run-in with a couple of snarling Rottweilers must be a "Sunday picnic" for someone with your advanced skills...
Your point is taken about the likelihood of occasionally meeting animals in the woods. What you haven't acknowledged is that this ain't rural Montana, Alaska, or the Yukon. This is New Jersey, among the most densely-populated, anti-gun, anti-hunting states in the country. What are your thresholds for an "acceptable" number of bear-induced injuries with these factors in mind? What is your suggested plan for the bear population in general and the increasingly-common hostile encounters?
~ Blue Jays ~
Glad you acknowledge that this story is not anything to be alarmed about. Here's my problem with your Alaska comparison. Your argument will be used as a rationale to totally spoil what little habitat is left, and I'm against that. To outsiders, yeah, NJ is all people and gun laws. But the northwest corner of the state, where I live, where my wife grew up, where her folks live, is rural. It's red state country, and it's got wildlife. I want it to stay that way. This is our little piece of Montana. I want it to keep that character. If we follow your thinking, we'll just say the hell with it, it's new jersey, and pave over the rest of the state.
As for how many is too many, I think it's a good question. I don't know the answer. I can say that I didn't read, see or hear about many bear incidents. I know they were down, but I don't know by how much. Based on last years numbers, I can't imagine we'll need another hunt in 05.
That must have been a harrowing experience at the DWG...glad you made it through untouched.
Your apology is accepted. Yes, I agree with you about typical bear behavior...especially around food. We practice very strict garbage discipline because bears are such opportunists. Since we're also avid birders, our feeders are mounted quite high and are lowered via a small pulley and rope to be refilled.
In our memorable incident, the four bears blended into the environment. We didn't realize we were in the midst of them (and bisecting the one cub from the rest of the family) until that moment we stopped to drink our water. These bears did NOT flee this chance meeting. Some of the cubs made what sounded like a bark that we attributed to youth and inexperience. The adult bear was emitting a growling/woofing sound which we perceived more as aggression than curiousity. That's when when we kept "averted" eye contact and started backing-away.
As a person who also loves the outdoors, I wish to see green areas preserved. With this in mind, I also believe that legislators have to put humans FIRST when bear encounters occur. Our situation resolved itself satisfactorily, but I would have been up a creek without a paddle if that bear (who significantly outweighed me) charged us and meant serious business.
Signs should be posted at the trailheads advising of known bear activity and STRONGLY advise the carry of pepper spray. Those familiar with the use of handguns should be absolutely allowed to carry them holstered for use in emergency situations. A report could be required if a weapon is discharged to understand the circumstances. My point is that the benefit of the doubt should always go in favor of the human...which doesn't seem to be the case in the media lately.
~ Blue Jays ~
If the mother bear was nearby, anything other than sitting still might have got one of them killed. A mother bear will NOT allow aggressive human behavior toward her cubs. So I think they did the right thing. After all, they're alive.
And the bears won't be destroyed, more's the pity. Underhunting has led to the bears losing their fear of man, which really makes them much more dangerous.
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