Aggressive bear shot in Denali National Park and Preserve

Fairbanks Daily News-Miner ^ | July 6, 2008

[george76]

An aggressive black bear was shot and killed in a remote section of Denali National Park by park staffers on July 4...

The black bear had threatened the life and safety of three park employees ...

Three seasonal National Park Service technicians were conducting a botany field study along the remote river when a sub-adult black bear approached their camp ...

The three tried to scare it away by yelling, waving their arms and throwing objects at the bear. After being chased off into dense brush, the bear circled back to the camp three or four times. At one point, the animal destroyed a tent. On its final approach to the camp, the bear charged the three researchers, hissing and pouncing at the ground.

An attempt to divert the bear with pepper spray was ineffective.

One of the researchers, who was authorized to carry and use firearms in the park, shot the bear when it charged within 20 feet of the team. The bear was hit in its mid-section with a 12-gauge shotgun slug. Despite considerable blood loss, the wounded bear moved into dense vegetation and out of view.

[AnAmericanMother]

You're absolutely right.

As Colonel Cooper used to say, a hit with a .22 short is better than a loud miss with a .44 Mag.

More Range Time appears to be indicated here.

[Eska]

I don't know how it is around Anchorage, but out here along the Yukon, It's common practice & duty to shoot any bear that comes around people. No F&G problems out here, like I hear in urban Ak. I laugh when I hear people talk about gun control, game violations & seasons & limits. We are 200 miles from nearest law, have unorganized govt; it makes a difference in your freedom. Anyway, we're keeping it that way too, no taxes.

I've seen blk bear that have never seen people and the young ones can be dangerous. I've had two blk bear come in on me like a cat on a rabbit, ear twittlin like crazy. The one I chased off yellin & wavin my arms, other one I just shot.

[ricks_place]

The authorities justify the shooting and killing of a BLACK bear...but

If the authorities shot a WHITE bear ,aka a Polar bear, all hell would break loose.

[proud_yank]

There are lots of people here who should have left their attitude back in Seattle or CA, and who think there is nothing more aweful than to shoot an animal that attacks someone. Many suggest relocating them, and eventually they come back.

I’ve been fairly close to black bear before, even a small one could do a number on you if it attacked.

Looks like I’ll be heading up to your neck of the woods in Sept. Doubt if I’ll want to leave!

[Eska]

Yank, For moose season? The river’s not near as productive as it use to be; wolves have the moose pops in big decline. People who for years have hunted the river, still come up, a tradition of sorts. We have all kinds of caribou come fall but moose are getting scarce, still chance of getting big bull is good over spikes. I have my moose camp 25 miles downriver, but often do better near the house.

[One_who_hopes_to_know]

Overheated in fur coat, indeed! Perhaps that’s what ails my crazy dog, who is really out of sorts lately with the heat here in L.A. She’s more aggressive than usual towards just about anything/anyone.

Indeed - people over look the affect of heat on a bear. - Several years ago during an exceptionally warm winter there was a bear incident at the Birkebeiner cross country ski race in Wisconsin. A pair of skiers (Russian and Czechoslovakian) failed to finish the race. A search party found blood in the snow near a bear's den. The bears had arisen from hibernation. After shooting the female bear and finding parts of the Russian in her stomach - they stopped right there. They just assumed the Czech was in the male.