"I am actually holding bear poop in my hand!!!"
Posted on 05/25/2007 12:45:22 PM PDT by Omega Man II
May 25, 2007, 12:57PM
Photographer mauled by Yellowstone bear
The Associated Press
YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK, Wyo. — A man whose face was severely mauled by a grizzly in Yellowstone National Park is a photographer and author of books about grizzlies who also had been attacked in 1993.
The National Park Service said Jim Cole, 57, was hiking alone, off-trail in prime grizzly habitat Wednesday when he was attacked by a sow with a cub. He apparently was carrying pepper spray but whether he used it was unclear.
Cole told rangers he walked two to three miles to seek help.
Cole, of Bozeman, Mont., was in fair condition Friday at Eastern Idaho Regional Medical Center in Idaho Falls. He underwent seven hours of surgery Thursday to repair his face.
Longtime friend Rich Berman said Cole was unable to speak and was breathing through a ventilator and being fed through a tube. "He's lucky to be alive," Berman said.
Berman said the bear hit Cole twice on the head and face with its claws, and the park service said there weren't any bite marks. That indicates the attack wasn't predatory, but was rather a defensive or protective action by the mother bear.
In 1993, Cole was attacked by a grizzly in Glacier National Park in Montana, but was hurt much less seriously, according to his description in one of his books.
He and a friend were hiking when they surprised a young grizzly. Cole's scalp was torn and his wrist was broken by the bear, but the friend was able to scare it away.
Cole's books — "Lives of Grizzlies: Montana and Wyoming" and "Lives of Grizzlies: Alaska" — contain his photographs and personal narratives based on traveling and observing grizzlies for many years.
In 2005, he was acquitted of willfully approaching within 100 yards of bears in Yellowstone. Cole said he came upon the bears inadvertently, snapped a few pictures and backed away slowly.
Grizzly bears and black bears are active throughout Yellowstone this time of year. Park visitors are encouraged to travel in groups, make noise and carry canisters of bear pepper spray.
The park service says no human injuries from bears in Yellowstone were reported last year and only eight minor injuries were reported since 2000. The last bear-caused human fatality in the park was in 1986.
Bears don’t like papprazzi , either, i see........
This man sounds like that whack job that was killed by a bear in Alaska... forgot the name of the film..
The man’s name was Timothy Treadwell, I believe.
Treadwell = “Grizzley Man”
Mother bear was protecting her young. Humans could take a few lessons from the animal kingdom.
NEW HEADLINE: “BEAR STALKING WILL GET YOU RIPPED!”
You play with fire, you’ll eventually get burned.
Pics?... Did he get any?
"I am actually holding bear poop in my hand!!!"
Grizzly Man. The guy was a raving MoonBat. I recommend watching the film to get a glimpse into the mind of an idiot.
Slow learner.
The man’s name was Timothy Treadwell, I believe.
A fool and his life are soon parted (to coin a phrase)
This fool is a little bit luckier.
Treadwell = Grizzly Poop
I can’t bear you people.
In light of the rising frequency of human/grizzly bear conflicts, the Montana Department of Fish and Game is advising hikers, hunters, and fishermen to take extra precautions and keep alert for bears while in the field.
We advise that outdoorsmen wear noisy little bells on their clothing so as not to startle bears that aren’t expecting them. We 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 poop. Black bear poop contains lots of berries and squirrel fur. Grizzly bear poop has little bells in it and smells like pepper.
If that is a picture of the photographer being discussed here, no wonder the bear attacked. Would you let your children be approached by something like that? I mean, what do you take her for- an unfit mother? Good Lord!
What these Moonbats don’t realize is they are actually endangering these animals.. Most wild animals have an instinctive fear of humans and will stay away... These people are trying to “tame” the wild animals to the point that they will approach humans, and this in turn will force the park rangers to shoot the animal!
Reminds me of a story from the 70’s where some couple put honey on their kid to draw out a bear to get a picture! This was also in Yellowstone Park! Some people are just plain morons!
Another proud example of the modern American educational system.
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