Bear attack first in 30 years in Colorado park

Reuters ^ | Tuesday, July 15, 2003

[presidio9]

For the first time in more than 30 years, a black bear has attacked people in Colorado's Rocky Mountain National Park, where it ripped through tents and bit or scratched two campers, the park said.

Attacks on people by black bears are very unusual and in this case the campers had properly stored their food to hide the smell, the park said in a statement Monday.

[Dave Elias]

But surely we have the constitutional right "To keep and arm Bears"?

[Red Boots]

A book called "Bear Attacks" which came out a few years ago, might interest you. I picked it up at our local sportsman's Warehouse. It goes over in detail black and grizzly bear attacks that have occurred in the Us over the past 100 years or so. There have been documented black bear attacks which the author classifies as preditory, which had nothing to do with food around people, or other mistaken identity problems. Anyone who ventures into bear country ought to read it. After reading this book, I no longer venture into the backcountry without a firearm. I don't go to national parks. PS- another fun read is "Mountain Lion Attacks".

[bangor505]

I've shot the Desert Eagle .44. It's heavy, but a smooth shooting gun!

Another thing...I've been face to face with black bears many a time in the Allegheny Mts. I've had one halfway in our tent...trying to get my buddies brown paper bag full of food!

I will tell you first of all, I started arming myself. Screw the law. I would rather have a fine, than end up dead, or worse yet, watch one of my family members killed by a bear.

ON THE OTHER HAND...don't try to tell me that you need some monstrous weapon for protection. Any firearm, ANY, is better than nothing. We are not HUNTING bears, we are concerned about self-protection. BIG Difference. MOST black bears take off if they are startled...I threw rocks at one (from a very safe distance)and chased him from the campsite.

After all, we are not talking about Hollywood-sized bears...just black bears. Black bears that deserve respect.

[Mr. Mojo]

Any firearm, ANY, is better than nothing. We are not HUNTING bears, we are concerned about self-protection. BIG Difference. MOST black bears take off if they are startled...I threw rocks at one (from a very safe distance)and chased him from the campsite.

Yes, bears are easily startled, and one can effectively employ such techniques to scare them off. But if you're going to shoot the damn thing, you better be sure that your gun has sufficient power to do the job. Because if it doesn't, and you just end up injuring (or just pissing off) the bear, you could be a dead man very quickly.

And as far as screwing the law and arming yourself, you're preachin' to the choir, buddy.

[Freedom4US]

The problem is that bears eventually learn to have no fear of humans, they know that a beer cooler is full of tasty snacks, etc, and that the worst that might happen is someone yelling and banging pots and pans.

Hanging up the foods and odorous items out of reach and maintaining cooking areas away from sleeping areas (so much for campsites)helps, but clearly bears associate humans with an easy snack. If the party is large enough (2 or more) then a duty roster should be drawn up and the campers maintain 'guard duty' for the safety of all concerned in known bear country.

[waterstraat]

Every time there is a bear, alligator, or shark attack, it is the first in 30 years, etc. I know Florida dosnt keep track of its alligator attacks, because they dont mention the ones I remember, same thing with bear attacks. I remember bear attacks that the state does not list. In addition, if you dont come back from the woods, or the water, it is assumed by the tourists councils in most states that you either got lost, or drowned, not eaten.