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.

[Atlas Sneezed]

Why presume the worst and call the dead idiots?

---

It's hard to envision a scenario where a lone bear (and they don't generally hunt in groups) would have the chance to kill TWO properly armed humans.

Generally, the one whose neck isn't being chomped starts blasting.

[AnAmericanMother]

Get yourself one of these.

The Original Bear Medicine - Model 71 Winchester in .348 WCF. It will make Brother Bruin lie down pronto. It's short and handy with a very fast action, so you can grab it in a hurry at 3 a.m.

My dad bought it for my mom to go hunting on Kodiak. He was going to get a custom rifle in .375 H&H, but mom turned up pregnant with moi, so they never went.

Dad will occasionally look at me, and sigh, and ask, "Why couldn't you wait til I got the H&H?" Oh, well, that's the breaks. At least I reload the .375 ammo for him!

[Atlas Sneezed]

If you had been caught "embearassed" on camera, would that be a Kodiak moment?

---

Talk about an obscure Aleutian!

[Eaker]

Too funny!!!

I am pinging Hackney because he just moved to Alaska from Texas and being an EE (wirebender) he ain't too bright!!

He prolly doesn't even know that bears are dangerous!!

;<)

[toddst]

I thought in the first couple of thousand feet a grizzly can outrun a race horse.

You may be right. To people who are trying frantically to escape an angry grizzly it probably doesn't matter much, beyond a few hundred feet. Dead is dead, which is exactly what the situation is for any unarmed human in the Grizzly's crosshairs.

Everyone with good sense leaves these bears alone IMO.

[Travis McGee]

If these folks from CA voted in the recall election by absentee ballot, do their ballots still count?

OMG!! Spewing chunks on the keyboard!

[Travis McGee]

PING! to 150.

[Travis McGee]

Maybe we can all rendezvous in Alaska for some fishing and hunting some day. That'd be damn nice.

[Travis McGee]

Generally, the one whose neck isn't being chomped starts blasting.

I guess the incense, pan flutes, crystals and dream-catchers didn't work so well.

[pointsal]

Where's Babs?

[OKSooner]

Just FYI, a dog named Bear, living in "A city in Northeast Oklahoma", just stole my leftover chicken parmesan while I had my back turned. He's not very contrite about it, either.

[bwteim]

Talk about an obscure Aleutian!

I had to read that more than once..... LOL. Good one.

[wardaddy]

That would be great....

I wonder if harpseal has had much fun with that 45-70 he won last year or so?

I have never hunted anything that would be considered a great natural predator.

Maybe Squantos could show us how that extreme grizzly hunting is done on the ground with a long bow!...and no stopper on hand...

[toddst]

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 . . .

10-4 on get some preparation. That really big Grizzly isn't going to hesitate in his charge, cut you any slack per your lack of preparation. BTW even the general rifle course at Gunsite is good preparation for any potentially lethal encounter (far better than none at all.)

[txhurl]

That really big grizzly thinks he is God, because he is.

The only survival episode I've heard of is an Aleutian woman who jammed her fist down a bear's throat, and pulling it back, left her wool mitten, choking the bear.

[keithtoo]

It was more of a wish than a statement of fact.

It is a fact however, that in the parts of the Gulf of Mexico where there are drilling rigs, there has never been a recorded bear attack. Not a grizzly bear anyway.

[bat1816]

Interesting theory, but it holds no water.

1. You claim that if dogs were bigger than humans, they would eat them. Well dogs are bigger than some humans, chiefly infants and small children, and they aren't eaten. In fact, most dogs will go to great lengths to protect these weaker members of the pack. Sure there is the occasional story of a dog attacking and even killing a child family member, but I have yet to see a story of a dog actually eating that child.

2. About four years ago there was a story of a high school teenager who got pregnant and hid it from her family. It was a very poor family and they kept a pit bull in thier back yard. According to neighbors, the dog was fed only on an irregular basis. The teenager gave birth to the baby in her bedroom and tossed the baby out in the backyard for the pit bull to eat. The baby died of exposure, but the dog did not eat the baby.

3. Nearly everyone knows of some kooky old lady or man that lives down the street with two dozen dogs. That pack of dogs is far stronger and outnumber the owner, and yet they aren't attacked and eaten.

4. I work in search and rescue in a desert area that averages over 500 rescues per year, and over 150 death recoveries per year. The area also has one of the highest populations of coyotes in the country. Never have I seen any coyotes attempt to eat, nibble on, or any way sample the flesh of any human, dead or alive.

[ExSoldier]

"Maybe we can all rendezvous in Alaska for some fishing and hunting some day. That'd be damn nice.

Ahhhhh yes. I would dream of a full out guided hunt where the guides set up camp each night with a roaring campfire and a cook and a gourmet chuck wagon. There is nothing more satisfying than sitting around a campfire with good friends, old whiskey and fine cigars. Such are the defining and memorable moments of manhood. Such times make life worth the trouble!

[RightWhale]

extreme grizzly hunting is done on the ground with a long bow!...

There is an extreme problem with that. The arrow doesn't kill immediately. Further, a frontal shot is near impossible.

[ExSoldier]

"Bears will eat anything."

I remember hearing about the poor bear who happened upon a fallen stash of cocaine that had missed the drop point. The bear ATE over 120 pounds of near pure cocaine and died of overdose. I wonder how a dying bear acts when he's stoned to the tips of his wittle ears?

BTW, if I'm hunting in bear country (bear season or not) I'm toting at least a .300 win mag rifle; if I'm merely camping or hiking the area, I'm hauling a 454 Casull or a 480 Ruger. Besides my 45 for two legged critters.