Posted on 04/23/2008 4:47:39 AM PDT by period end of story
BIG BEAR LAKE, Calif. - The grizzly bear that wrestled Will Ferrell's character in the recent film "Semi-Pro" seemed to obediently follow cues — which made its killing of its trainer with a bite to the neck all the more stunning.
Three experienced handlers were working with the grizzly Tuesday at the Predators in Action wild animal training center when the bear attacked Stephan Miller, 39, said San Bernardino County sheriff's spokeswoman Cindy Beavers.
Stephan Miller is the cousin of training center owner Randy Miller, she said.
Pepper spray was used to subdue and contain the bear, and there were no other injuries, Beavers said. Paramedics arriving shortly after the initial emergency call around 3 p.m. were unable to revive Stephan Miller.
The Department of Fish and Game investigated the incident, but will not decide whether the bear will be euthanized because the attack occurred outside its jurisdiction during a training session on facility grounds, department spokesman Harry Morse told the San Bernardino Sun Tuesday.
Morse speculated that the county animal care officials may decide the bear's fate. A call placed early Wednesday to the county's Animal Care and Control Program was not answered.
(Excerpt) Read more at news.yahoo.com ...
Bear along the coast lay around eating fish, getting fat; they get bigger. All tame bear I have ever seen were declawed & muzzeled.
Click on my screen name to see my mastiff as a 2 yo puppy (taken 2 years ago). They aren’t full grown until they’re 4 yo.
The bear was ordered to cease his biting of the trainer. When the bear refused to comply, he was pepper sprayed. The bear's attorney has reported that there is a culture of distrust of the police among bears and that he grew up in poverty.
He may not have felt that way but it would appear that he thought the laws of nature didnt apply to him.
I’ve got two dogs that guard me with their every waking moment. One is an Aussie Cattle Dog and the other a Border Collie. The Collie merely places herself between you and the risk, sweeping back and forth to keep it’s attention. The Aussie will leap to action with all teeth, grip, and will not let go until I tell her to. She can be so mean with cattle that all I have to do is call her name and all the stock will group and circle. She can bring em in or take em out like yelling fire in a crowded theater. The collie is more subtle and works em better in close quarters or when there are calves or lambs on mothers.
But a Bear is not a socialized animal. Just being around people is out of character. Bears aren't around other bears for much of their lives. So they don't get how to protect each other. If one bear crowds another they fight.
I have one of these. Or at least I have the same thing in a female 155 size. They are very friendly dogs. Well, thats unless you are an uninvited male visiter. Then you have a problem if you come on to my property. And whatever you do don’t hit her.
I have one of these. Or at least I have the same thing in a female 155 size. They are very friendly dogs. Well, thats unless you are an uninvited male visiter. Then you have a problem if you come on to my property. And whatever you do don’t hit her.
A bear is an omnivore.
You, to it, are food.
A 700 pound grizzly is reason for concern in itself.
How come you are not working, poinq?
And how come your Mastiff isn’t anywhere close to this big?
Did you read the great bear joke a few posts above the Mastiff photo?
You were closer in the PA differential.
Don’t regret riding it a bit! It was obviously a hoot or I wouldn’t remember it some 50 years later! I have no idea what kind of bear it was.... just that it was a bear.
Meant to ping you to the thread.
/Sounds like that could be applied to many lowlifes in the human race. (Instead of trying to be everybody's friend.)
Even better, I think I'll try that approach to boys trying to date my teenage daughter. The more uneasy they are around me, the safer my daughter will be. :-)
One time I held a rescued baby bear in my arms. It purred like a cat, and nibbled on my ear.
Silly statement. Have you ever been on a farm with a bull who is turned out year round with his beef herd? Some very friendly, docile beef cows are MUCH more dangerous after giving birth then any bull.
Domestic animals are completely different to work around than wild animals who can never be totally domesticated and are always dangerous. Anybody can be hurt working around large domestic animals like a riding horse if they don't know what they are doing. Hardly the fault of the animal.
All large domestic animals are potentially dangerous, with bulls being the best example. One of my classmates in high school was gored nearly to death by a bull that had never shown a sign of agression. Another neighbor was permanently crippled when a sow bit his leg. Also once worked for a man whose wife was killed by a bull. Try telling any of them that its a silly statement.
I know lots of farmers who have been injured by large animals, but I've yet to meet anyone who was injured that wasn't doing something dumb or not paying attention when it happened.
I grew up on a large farm with a dairy herd, pigs, beef cattle, TB race horses, and we kept bulls, stallions, etc. for breeding. Learned from the time I could walk how to safely handle large domestic animals and to avoid being injured. People are killed and maimed every day by large domestic animals, but nearly always because they are careless, lacking the proper equipment, or trying to do something they should not be under the circumstances.
The bull that nearly killed my friend had no horns. Knocked him down from behind and worked him over with hooves and head.
Actually, we are in total agreement. Putting yourself in a position where an animal can hurt you either on purpose or by accident is by definition foolish. So is treating large livestock like pets, especially males. I’ve never had anything worse than a cow stepping on my foot, but I’ve probably been more lucky than smart. And as for the original post, getting next to an unrestrained bear is say dumb.
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