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.

[mombonn]

Janine Motta, a spokeswoman for the New Jersey Animal Rights Alliance, called yesterday's death a tragedy, but . . .

I wonder if she'd be as dispassionate if HER baby had been killed.

Prayer on the way for this family, especially the mother. I hope she doesn't blame herself.

[Sungirl]

Bears we can do without unless they have been habituated to believe people are a potential source of danger through controlled hunting.

How do you feel about rotweilers or other dogs that have killed people? Seems like their personalities cannot be trusted or trained. It's a constant danger right in the middle of the modern world. Do really need them?

[CollegeRepublican]

Here in Maryland we are faced with an increasing black bear population and a government that wants to act like nothing is happening. The two western counties in Maryland are starting to be overrun with bear-human-pet-livestock encounters. If you look at a map the two western Maryland counties are surrounded by Pa, WV, and Va counties that allow bear hunting. The bears in these counties seek refuge in Maryland. The people where I live near Annapolis think of bears as Yoggi and not as the potential predators that they are. Western Maryland Bow Hunters are not allowed to carry guns when bowhunting. After making kills on deer, bears will show up and harrass hunters for the carcass. With the current drought in Maryland and the influx of bears it will only be a matter of time before a child or bowhunter or hiker is attacked or killed. As a deer hunter I am all for a bear hunt. I would probably not participate, but I see the need for people to protect their families and livestock. It is unfortunate that people are now illegally killing bears in Western Maryland to protect their persons and property when it all could have been controlled with a hunt.

[CollegeRepublican]

Here in Maryland we are faced with an increasing black bear population and a government that wants to act like nothing is happening. The two western counties in Maryland are starting to be overrun with bear-human-pet-livestock encounters. If you look at a map the two western Maryland counties are surrounded by Pa, WV, and Va counties that allow bear hunting. The bears in these counties seek refuge in Maryland. The people where I live near Annapolis think of bears as Yoggi and not as the potential predators that they are. Western Maryland Bow Hunters are not allowed to carry guns when bowhunting. After making kills on deer, bears will show up and harrass hunters for the carcass. With the current drought in Maryland and the influx of bears it will only be a matter of time before a child or bowhunter or hiker is attacked or killed. As a deer hunter I am all for a bear hunt. I would probably not participate, but I see the need for people to protect their families and livestock. It is unfortunate that people are now illegally killing bears in Western Maryland to protect their persons and property when it all could have been controlled with a hunt.

[CollegeRepublican]

Damn sorry about the double post, that is the first time that has ever happened to me posting on FreeRepublic.

[LouD]

Many a man has been killed by a bear with a loaded gun/rifle in his hand.

Hey, many a man has been killed by a human with a loaded gun in his hand. That does not prove that such a precaution is unwarranted, merely that, as a solution, carrying a firearm is not 100% effective, just like with human predators. The firearm is only part of the solution. Just like with humans, a guy wandering around armed, but in "Condition White" and oblivious to his surroundings is unlikely to respond quickly enough to be effective. In fact, I would argue that, of the two, being alert is a lot more important than being armed. However, both are important; Being aware of the bear, but unable to do something about it, is as bad as having the means of defense, but unaware of the threat.

Obviously, you need to be alert to bear sign, wear or carry a bell, make plenty of noise, and be especially careful not to go near cubs, as well as keep the pogie bait, and anything else that smells like food, out of the tent.

However, all those bearskin rugs adorning cabins across the country came from somewhere, and I'm guessing that on the overall scoreboard, guys with guns are way ahead of the bears.

[ZULU]

Good point. It may well have been a renegade Jersey bear.

[ZULU]

I'd still rather face a charging bear with a gun in my hand than a stick or a closed fist.

[ZULU]

"After a week in the backcountry of Yellowstone a few years ago, I was hanging out talking to a ranger. He told me about people who smeared their children's faces with jelly, so they could capture a photo of a bear licking the child's face."

They probably watched too many Walt Disney movies.

[ZULU]

Thanks smiles.

I'll remember that sight picture and use it if necessary.

[ZULU]

The mother wasn't to blame, she was trying to get all her kids to safety.

[ZULU]

Rottweilers are not my favorite dog. However, the problem with problem dogs is problem owners, not the dog.

[ZULU]

The problem with Maryland is Baltimore and Washington D.C. and the liberal DemocRATic politicians they put in office. Sort of like the problem in Jersey and New York and Massachusetts.

People get the government they deserve, although unfortunately they also force it on other people who do not deserve it.

[waterstraat]

I'd still rather live near bears than many humans. The population is growing extremely fast due to the populations of other countries pouring into the country but we were safer when it was more bears and less humans.

You are right, natural born american women have been below zero population growth for over 30 years. Were it not for record immigration, our highways, schools, and unemployment offices would be extremely empty right now.

One has to chose between either seeing fields and forests, and an occasional bear now and then, or else seeing 50 million aisan and latin immigrants filling up our land.

Most americans prefer seeing 50 million additional people, or 500 million people for that matter.

America is now the 3rd most populous country in the world and growing fast. At current immigration rates, America will have a population of over 1 billion by the end of the century. There will be little habitat for bears by the end of the century, and very few places to go hunting.

[Semaphore Heathcliffe]

totally off the subject, but my primary care doc went to medical school in Whitwaterstraat, SA. Any connection to your name?

[mombonn]

I KNOW she isn't to blame. Being a mom, I know I would live the rest of my life saying "if only." I'm simply praying for her to realize it wasn't her fault.

[phasma proeliator]

"I have come to the conclusion that as long as hunters eat what they kill, I have no problem with them."

No disrespect intended - but that's a big step for you, isn't it (compared to how you used to post)?

[Sungirl]

I've said that along time ago.
I also tried to point out quite a few times that I know not 'all' hunters are b@stards :)
but that didn't make it in the headlines either. So~ whatever.

[SGCOS]

... Rarely will females prey upon man, but they will in rare instances.

You never met my ex-wife.