Me either, Badeye. I carry multiple weapons when I go into the wilderness. I’ve had people get upset with me for “hunting”, because I’m carrying a rifle but I’m not hunting. They can kiss my rump. The .30-30 goes with me into the bush. Period. And a side arm as back up.
(I COULD start carrying around the AR-15 with a few magazines and let’s see what they say then.... /snicker)
Funny thing since yesterday. Saw a report that the black bear is making a big come back here in Southern Ohio. 116 confirmed sightings in the last year. Video and pictures of one feeding off of garbage about 20 miles from where I live.
I’m much more concerned with bi peds than bears.
Yeah, like I was saying though, when Bear Meets Human and there is conflict, the bear loses.
Don’t get me wrong here, I think bears have a ‘right’ to live too, but not at the expense of human beings. We do encroach on their habitat, so we have to expect to have occasional conflict.
But being a hunter and being a woodsy sort of fella, I think that conservation is best. That is, let animals live where they live and people visit them. Not be seen, heard or leave anything other than foot prints (if you have to).
On the other hand, humans need to be, and ARE, responsible for their own actions. Thus, keeping garbage OUT of reach of animals certainly will help with such a situation.
As for wolves being “reintroduced” to areas where they used to live, well... I’m a little torn on that one. I think it is cool. At the same time, there’s honestly only room on this planet for one full-time predator. Us. Eventually, we’re going to come into conflict with wolves again.
As to the “facts” about “confirmed” wolf attacks, I’d say that’s a whole load of nonsense. Wolfs HAVE attacked human beings in the past, and certainly they did so on a regular basis when humans were much more privative.
I’m certain it will happen again if wolf packs get large, and are no longer scared of humans (this comes when humans leave their garbage around, and feed animals).