Posted on 04/24/2005 11:35:30 AM PDT by kingattax
ANCHORAGE, Alaska (Reuters) - Scott MacInnes set an Alaskan record this week, although not one contenders would seek to break, by becoming the state's first person to survive two bear attacks, state officials said on Wednesday.
MacInnes, a 51-year-old biologist, was mauled during his early morning jog on Monday when he met up with a brown bear and one or two cubs near his home in the Kenai Peninsula town of Soldotna.
He had been mauled 38 years earlier on a well-used hiking trail in the Chugach National Forest, according to a government biologist.
"That's the only time in the history of the state that I have a record that anybody's been attacked twice," said Tom Smith, a bear biologist with the U.S. Geological Survey who keeps records of Alaska bear attacks dating to the late 1800s.
The presence of a dog and a food source, a freshly killed moose found nearby, made the bear more aggressive, said Bruce Bartley, a spokesman for the Alaska Department of Fish and Game.
"There's just hardly any other factors that could make it worse," Bartley said.
MacInnes was one of eight people in Alaska who had been attacked by bears while jogging, according to Smith's records. Including MacInnes' second attack, Smith's records recount 519 bear maulings in Alaska.
MacInnes' first bear attack in 1967 resulted in wounds on his legs and an injured arm, but he was able to walk a few days later.
Monday's attack, which took place about 60 miles southwest of Anchorage, appeared more serious, inflicting wounds on MacInnes' head, neck and abdomen. He is expected to make a full recovery.
Outside of Alaska, a Canadian man claims to have been attacked on two occasions by polar bears, Smith said
Maybe, but I'm not gonna carry any herb on a hiking trip to find out.
I can't believe you posted that picture. That is worse than anything I've ever seen. Even worse then stuff out of Iraq.... Holy Sh*T!!!! Your warning is hardly sufficient.
Not even a few sprigs of garlic around your neck?? LOL
They advise that outdoorsmen wear noisy little bells on their clothing, so as not to startle bears that aren't expecting them. They also advise outdoorsmen to carry pepper spray with them in case of an encounter with a bear.
It is also a good idea to watch out for fresh signs of bear activity.
Outdoorsmen should recognize the difference between black bear and grizzly bear dung. Black bear dung is smaller and contains lots of berries and squirrel fur. Grizzly bear dung has little bells in it and smells like pepper spray.
Looks like the game warden is checking his pulse.
LOL...thats good
I was being facetious. LOL
A Warning is a Warning
I spent 9 days in AK last summer, stayed just outside Soldotna where this guy got mauled. Saw several brown bears on one of my fishing trips. What a great place. My guides all carried shotties with buckshot followed by slugs. I did in fact take my 454 Casull. AK is legal for carry, even for visitors.
NEW! THE WOLVERINE REVOLVER IS NOW AVAILABLE IN 475 LINEBAUGH!
I didn't know Rush was in the arms industry.
A few years ago, a friend sent me a picture of someone gutting a Great White with a man inside. Talk about gross...
It's a great site, lots of cool ideas for guns. Wish I had the $$ for the Co-pilot in .457 WW Mag.
Dude, I am a pretty hearty person and I am still freaking out about that pic. You did warn, but you probably should have issued a triple warning or something. That pic is just horrifying.
Yeah, that sounds gross. Did you see the bear mauling pic?
"Your warning is hardly sufficient."
What part of "WARNING : GRUESOME PHOTO" don't you understand?
i just assumed most people knew what "Gruesome" means... sorry, it is pretty bad.
Yeah, but I figured it was semi-gruesome. I was not at all prepared for how horrifying and nasty that was. Seriously... only the most hardcore freepers should look at it.
"Never Mind".
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