Black bear kills baby girl at vacation colony in N.Y.

New Jersey Star-Ledger ^ | August 20, 2002 | JEFF DIAMANT

[ZULU]

Black bear kills baby girl at vacation colony in N.Y.

A black bear snatched a 5-month-old girl from a stroller at an upstate New York bungalow colony yesterday afternoon and killed the baby while trying to drag her back into the woods from which the animal had just emerged, authorities said.

[Born to Conserve]

If you don't kill the black bears they will adopt behavior pretty much identical to that of racoons. Expect a few very large wild residents in your back yard.

[ZULU]

Those you cited and the people who believe bears are like people and shouldn't be hunted.

You know. The BAMBI Crowd.

[ZULU]

No. I just don't believe they belong in a state where the population density exceeds that of Japan.

Black bears are potentially very dangerous animals and should only be allowed to exist in areas where they can be hunted. Only by hunting can these intelligent predators be conditioned to regard human presence as something to be avoided.

Black bears are a legitimate game animls in most areas where they can be hunted. They are by no means endangered.

Do YOU think the black bear population is worth one human life?

[Area51]

Hey let's feed em to the Bears!

[Sungirl]

Zulu...do you want to kill all the bears...seems like they would probably have to eventually since population keeps growing. How would you ration that out? What about cougars or coyotes?

[ZULU]

"I've spoken to the authorities in Jersey about bear the likelihood of a bear attack in the future, including the former Governor, and they definitely caved to the anti-hunters."

You actually spoke with her majesty in person? When it comes to caving in like a cheap camera to pressure from a politically correct minority, nobody takes a back seat to Ms. Whitman.

I hope you're right about suing the state, but I think its difficult to sue a government entity.

[hopespringseternal]

"It may be the first season that it may have been on its own, and it may very well have perceived this infant as a food source," Lawrence said. "I wouldn't categorize it as an attack -- as far as a running, snarling attack."

Guess that might not be the baby's point of view, huh? Fool. Large predators will take children first. Introduce large predators, encourage their population to grow, and you are killing children.

Some fool's tiger got out a few years ago in Houston. Didn't last long, someone shot it. If I ever see a large predator and have a rifle handy, it is a dead predator. And I don't care if it is the last one.

[ZULU]

Until only a few decades ago, black bears were confined to the extreme northwestern part of New Jersey and their numbers were kept in check by controlled hunting. Since hunting in the state has been elimnated, their numbers have grown and they have invaded settled areas. The home range of a male black bear can extend up to 40 miles, about the width of northern New Jersey.

Black bears were common throughout New Jersey only in colonial times when most people had guns, were willing to use them, and successfully reduced the bear population there.

New Jersey is not Pennsylvania, New York or Maine. Its small densely populated and still increasing its population size.

[ZULU]

That is not the problem in New Jersey. In New Jersey there are MILLIONS of garbage cans put out each week by state residents. There is an overabunance of deer which are another potential food source. There are bird feeders, and livestock and pets. Jersey can't support a bear population unless its small, confined, and hunted.

[ZULU]

You are lucky - so far. Unless you have a gun too. Then you are smart.

[Crowcreek]

"Are you saying people are stupid and careless? Are you saying they don't follow rules while in parks and forests? Are you saying people are at fault? Do you think people will change? Well...lets open more forest and wilderness areas for people then."

I'm not aware of any problem that has been solved by hysteria, and you have approximately 'no' real understanding of this bear trouble.

[FITZ]

Bears are dangerous, so are many dogs, so are many humans. We should be allowed to carry guns and protect ourselves.

[verity]

I would wager that more infants have died of human misbehavior than of ursine misbehavior. Also, I would advocate an open season on human sexual predators. Do you agree?

[Crowcreek]

"Boy, I could tell you stories."

I'm just guessing you could . . .

[Sungirl]

Do you think cars are worth the life of one human?

[Fred Mertz]

Thanks for your informative comments to this thread and topic. I'm surprised there isn't a tremendous media blitz on this story....baby snatched by bear....amber alert...and all that.

[ZULU]

I have not had any personal encounters with bears.

However, I have read a lot of books about them, and have seen a lot of specials about them, and hold two degrees in zoology.

What a lot of experts say is that there are two kinds of bear attacks - attacks by females protecting cubs, and attacks by males looking for an easy protein source. They say if you are attacked by a female and can't get away in time ( a likely scenario as a bear can outrun a human, the best chance of survival is to lay down, cover your head and try to keep from being turned over as she claws, mauls and bites you. Then, if she hasn't killed you, don't move until you are sure she and her cub have left the area.

In the case of a male bear following you or attacking you - fight back, make noise, DON'T play dead. He's out for an easy meal and you might just be able to encourage him to look elsewhere - or youmight not, depending on how hungry he is.

The fact is, as you so well point out - bears are unpredictable. Like most animals of high intelligence, like people, bears have a great deal of difference in their "personalities". Considering their size, speed, and potential aggressiveness, they are not to be taken lightly under any circumstances.

I have a question for you. Where are the best areas to aim for to put a black bear down fast? The shoulders from the side and the head from the front? (I'm a good shot with a rifle.)