Two killed in Alaska bear attack

KTVB ^ | 10/07/03 | Staff Writer

[bedolido]

KING SALMON, Alaska - Two people were killed in an apparent bear attack near Kaflia Bay in Katmai National Park on the Alaska Peninsula, Alaska State Troopers said Tuesday.

The bodies were found Monday when a pilot with Andrew Airways arrived to pick up the man and woman and take them to Kodiak, troopers said.

The pilot saw a bear, possibly on top of a body, in the camp and contacted the National Park Service in King Salmon and state troopers in Kodiak.

Park rangers encountered an aggressive bear when they arrived at the campsite and killed it. Investigators then found human remains buried by a bear near the campsite.

The victims, believed to be in their late 30s to early 40s, were from Malibu, Calif. Their identities are being withheld pending notification of relatives.

The remains and the entire campsite were packed out and transported to Kodiak on the Andrew Airways flight.

As the plane was being loaded, another aggressive bear approached and was killed by park rangers and troopers.

The bodies were flown to the state medical examiner’s office for autopsy.

[Shooter 2.5]

If you are inexperienced with a firearm in emergency situations,

I don't agree with the idea that a gun will suddenly cause more problems than it solves but I do think anyone who carries should know how to use it. Gunsite offered a dangerous game course and I doubt a lot of people went to it let alone knew about it. Anyone carrying should test themselves to find out just how fast and accurate they really are instead of shooting for group once every couple of years.

[SW6906]

That looks like a poorly-made Photoshop job.....what's your source?

[redhead]

"Do grizzlies get to be 10 feet tall and weigh 1500 pounds?"

Easily.

[archy]

Exactly right- when tent-camping up here, I sleep with a 12-gauge Remington 870 loaded with alternating slugs and 00 buckshot. (I mean literally sleep with it- it's not leaning against a tree outside, or in a gun rack in a vehicle. It's right next to me. So far, I haven't shot my foot off during the night- but I had a lot of experience sleeping with loaded weapons in the Army. I am not suggesting that everyone do this, but I am saying that if a bear decides to drag you off and eat you, he is not likely to allow you to go and get your weapon first...)

Two other tricks I learned while living in Alaska and working as a bush pilot: keep one round of birdshot [my pick is the second one, following a slug] to use to go for the beast's eyes if surprised closeup. But expect one VERY annoyed bear.

The other is during the hours of darkness, use a 12-gauge magnesium *Dragon's breath* ground signal flare/incendiary round as the first shot at night. Whether the beast is blinded or set ablaze, the result will be a bear no longer interested in you as a source of either protein or amusement. I once had to discourage a ranger who was going to fire one vertically as an aircraft signal, thinking the round was a conventional aerial flare round, which they're certainly not. See pic below.

The only bear I've killed was a brownie, at a distance of about 35 feet, coming my way. I hit him one time with a softpoint from a .303 British Enfield, and had the bolt thrown and a second round ready for him in less time than it took for the ejected fired case to hit the ground. But the bear dropped like a puppet whose strings had been cut, for which I was most grateful, and no second shot [nor third, fifth or tenth, which I was prepared to deliver] was needed.

The shotgun is the prefered weapon for general purpose work or when hunting isn't really the point of the exercise, however. A lot of the *old guy* pilots preferred a double barrel, and that answer had worked for some of them a LONG time. And doubles don't freeze up from sleet.

[LibWhacker]

Freeper kitchen posted that on an earlier thread about grizzlies. Those are stuffed bears.

[archy]

I thought it was mandatory to be armed in Alaskan bear country. Awful lot of Alaskans walked around with that .44 while they're doing their chores when I was there..

It's mandatory by state law that aviators carry a survival kit that includes a firearm in all aircraft, private and charter. The type of firearm is very reasonably not specified, and though most Alaskan pilots have a pretty good idea of what to do with a hunting rifle and have a preferred choice of one, the space restrictions make handguns and shorty shotguns particularly popular. But even a .22 rimfire satisfies the legal requirement.

[nuconvert]

The guy is 3'9"

[Spruce]

As I stated, it is up to the individual park's regs. But I would trust the guide I was with at any particular area more than some boilerplate from the DNR. Worry about any legal tangles after you survive.
I just cannot fathom camping in kodiak country without carrying a VERY powerful firearm.

[nuconvert]

Ahhh. Italian bull.

No wonder.

[apologia_pro_vita_sua]

yes, those wittle puppies are harmless.....


http://www.fataldogattacks.com/statistics.html

[No_Outcome_But_Victory]

All one can do is simply shake their head. ...and the sad part is...there's an abundance of these idiots.

Yeah, but the good news is that nature is weedin' em out. Thanks Smokey!!

[archy]

If they were in a National Park, I don't think that they can be armed legally. However, I am not sure about the parks in Alaska.M

One interesting aspect of life in Alaska is that trains of the Alaska RailRoad run by the US Department of Transportation are required to stop for passengers when flagged down anywhere along the line, and they do.

When I rode the ARR, the most usual costuming was corduroys and flannel covered by a parka or Carhartt insulated coveralls and parka, though sometimes military ECWCCS gear was also seen, and Air Force flight line parkas were highly prized. But every single packframe or blanketroll aboard included a rifle or shotgun, every one-no exceptions, out of around 120 or so on board. Nicest bunch of folks you'd ever want to meet.

-archy-/-

[RANGERAIRBORNE]

"use a 12-gauge magnesium *Dragon's breath* ground signal flare/incendiary round as the first shot at night."

Interesting idea- the only drawback I can see is that I would also be blinded by this bright a light (I have used LOTS of magnesium flares and mortar illumination rounds, etc at night, and if you are close to these, even closing your eyes and/or turning your head away will not prevent the loss of night vision).

However, I am not the sole possessor of all knowledge on this subject- does anyone else have experience with this round in discouraging predators?

As for my 870 pump freezing up from sleet, I try very hard to keep weapons clean and dry. I have NEVER had one freeze up on me, whether hunting in Maine in rotten weather, or on patrol in the mountains of Korea in January. (One of the things I learned soon after moving to Alaska was not to oil weapons when the temperature falls to minus 30 or lower. A small amount of graphite is OK, but it sure makes the action hard to clean after firing!) And yep, I have practically every "miracle lubricant" ever made sitting on my reloading bench.

[archy]

Love, what they express to us is pure fear and submission. We misinterpret it as Love.

Just ask Roy Horn.

But like us, they develop habits, and their acceptance of a human as a partner can be realand include genuine affection, depending on the type of animal and its particular individual behaviour characteristics, not quite a *personality.*

But Mr. Horn has likely learned a new set of behaviors about striking very large and fast cats repeatedly with his microphone. That's also not a good idea with bears.

-archy-/-

[OldCorps]

I wonder if the victims were armed at all. I know I would have been packing if camping in Kodiak Country. And packing something heavy-duty, mind you.

Something just tells me this is another case of clueless liberals being victims of their own stupidity. Liberals believe the left wing mantra that firearms are inherently evil. Because they swallow this propaganda, they put themselves at risk. I wonder if they attended the clueless liberal class on dealing with bear attacks. You know, ball yourself up in a fetal position, wimper and pray. Guess what lib. You've just become bear food. It goes without saying, that real men go into bear country packing heat. Not because we are tough, or bad or whatever, but for self defense. Wouldn't be surprised if somepeople think the libs got what was coming to them, and feel sorry for the bear. What a world!

[Ditter]

It is not a pit bull sitting beside me right now licking my hand, nor will it ever be.

[Doomonyou]

For the real story go here:

Thanks for the link. It's good to know the whole story.

[CollegeRepublican]

Have you ever read Into the Wild?

The author, who's name is escaping me right now, stated that alot of hippie types and eco-nuts come to Alaska looking for a meaning to their life or to "test their mettle" and end up missing, dead, or near death in a matter of days.

[Myrddin]

One of my buddies recommended taking a .44 magnum along if your are traveling in grizzly country. It hurts less than being shredded by the bear.

[Bon mots]

There are two kinds of people on Kodiak Island.
1.) Those armed with loaded rifles and pistols.
2.) Bear food.

You can try Pepper Gas made for use against bears. But they are rather used to spicey food, and will eat you anyway.