An incident that happened a little closer to home...

http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/6420AP_WA_Bear_Attack.html?source=mypi

 

Just read that whole thing. What pissed me off about that is the bear was to be hunted and killed for what he did. My feeling is that we humans have invaded their territory time and time again and the bear shouldn't be the blame for it.

 

I've lived in bear country for a while now, mostly in Montana right where the attack took place. I've met lots of people who have bear attack/ close encounter stories. And I've read so many of these incidents written up in the papers.

Here's my point. If you get attacked by a bear or lion, and live to tell, you should be able to tell your story, word for word, in the paper. Reporters tell a lousy and boring story.

And what I really want to know, did you shit/piss your pants?

 

The study found that when you poke bears with sticks, they bite.

I've read two different stories about the incident in Kitsap County and seen one report on tv. It seems unfortunate that the bear is being hunted down. One report said a sow with cubs had been seen in the area recently. All reports said the victim's dogs were running ahead of him and encountered the bear on a corner. If the dogs were off leash and it was a sow with cubs and they met on a blind corner, well...

 

Homer: Well, there's not a bear in sight. The Bear Patrol is sure doing its job.
Lisa: That's specious reasoning, Dad.
Homer: Thank you, sweetie.
Lisa: Dad, what if I were to tell you that this rock keeps away tigers.
Homer: Uh-huh, and how does it work?
Lisa: It doesn't work. It's just a stupid rock.
Homer: I see.
Lisa: But you don't see any tigers around, do you?
Homer: Lisa, I'd like to buy your rock.

 

HAHAHHAHAHHAHAHA YES YES YES!!!!!!!
It's a pretty simple joke, but watching a rerun a couple of years ago evolved my thinking entirely. It made me realize that modern universities and academics are full of it because you can't apply deductive reasoning to oservational data.

Oh yeah, as for the other stuff....
I agree with Chad that if a cougar is in downtown Seattle hunting children that it should be put down. But respectfully disagree if you don't want to get attacked by a bear, eaten by a cougar, mauled by a wolf, raped by sasquatch, bitten by a snake, bitten by lice, bitten by mosquitos, get malaria, get Lyme disease, or fall of a cliff....ther's lots of places to live where you don't need to worry about stuff. If you live in a mountain town in Idaho, its part of the life cycle.

 

Maybe ya'll should ask Native Americans how they feel that the white man took over their land and made them live in reservations. When they showed any type of aggression they were dealt with accordingly. Goes for the same with wild animals. We've destroyed their habitat time and time again and when they decided that they've had enough and invaded their territory and decided to attack they're the ones to blame. How is that fair? And Chad, you don't have a right to live there, you made it your right, or better yet you took it over as your own without asking (So to speak). Did the animals that used to live where you nice warm home is give you permission? No, you cut down a whole bunch of trees to build your home right smack dab where animals used to call home.

My point is that we humans need to respect the land animals call home and do our best to keep out of it. If we're in it, be aware that we're in someone else's home and should tread lightly. If someone walked into your home, would you shoot him?

 

Maybe ya'll should ask Native Americans how they feel that the white man took over their land and made them live in reservations. When they showed any type of aggression they were dealt with accordingly. Goes for the same with wild animals. We've destroyed their habitat time and time again and when they decided that they've had enough and invaded their territory and decided to attack they're the ones to blame. How is that fair? And Chad, you don't have a right to live there, you made it your right, or better yet you took it over as your own without asking (So to speak). Did the animals that used to live where you nice warm home is give you permission? No, you cut down a whole bunch of trees to build your home right smack dab where animals used to call home.

My point is that we humans need to respect the land animals call home and do our best to keep out of it. If we're in it, be aware that we're in someone else's home and should tread lightly. If someone walked into your home, would you shoot him?

Native americans are the same as wild animals?

Where do you live, the moon? People have to live somewhere, right. Seattle used to sit on some nice wild habitat. Should we give the land back to the animals? It wasn't fair to take it to begin with, right?

Back on earth, I live in my home built by wood products and it required the displacement of many birds and squirrels amond other creatures. I regularly squish bugs I see. I hunt and fish. I kill and eat all kinds of animals, including many wild and domesticated creatures. They taste great. I never ask them for permission before killing or hooking them. But I do respect them and teach my kids to respect them. But there is a clear line between humans and animals and the value I place on them. And again, if any animal attacks my child, I will kill it. Not fair to the animal? Too bad.

 

Along a similar line, it irks me when someone builds their trophy home in the woods, then complains that the local authorities didn't do enough to protect it when it burns down in a forest fire, or that their insurance premiums are too high. You gotta sleep in the bed you make, but I agree we're foisting things on the critters that aren't fair. Too many humans.........

Anyway, I just thought it was an interesting article, especially that it is the first casuality they've had in a couple of decades of bear research trapping. Those bears are gettin' crafty.

He's lucky it wasn't a grizz. He would have needed more than some antimicrobics.

The worst part is I'm heading over that way in two weeks for a backpacking/fishing trip in the Jewel Basin.

Hope that bear's calmed down a little by then. That's all I need, a bear with a chip on his shoulder for humanoids..... I have a feeling I'll be sleeping REALLY lightly, and my radar is gonna be jacked up to 11. But that's the way I always am in heavy bear country, and I wouldn't have it any other way.

It's somewhat humbling to drop a few pegs on the food chain. Everybody should experience that at least once in their life. Might make people who need it feel a little less, umm, entitled?

 

In the state of Alaska, the Dept. of Fish and Game recently gave a pass to the bear when an episode almost identical to the one being described here in WA occured up there. Someone was out trail running, etc. and got chewed on after they surprised a mother bear; neither the victim nor the state tried to villify the animal for reacting instinctively to a percieved threat. It's interesting that a huge percentage of the population up there hunts and uses wildlife in a consumptive fashion, and they actually have a more understanding attitude towards the natural behavior of the animals than we do.

Here, one always hears about how Washington is so "progressive" and "forward thinking", we can't see our way clear to offer the animal, who is thought to be a mother with cubs, similar/ fair treatment. WDFW is hadling this issue poorly, and in conjunction with the fact that it is NOT illegal here to shoot a mother bear with attendant cubs, like it is in AK, MT, ID, and OR where it is expressly prohibited by law, makes me think our Wildlife Department and the "managers" and "specialists" they employ are a bunch of anachronistic, backward-thinking idiots.

Also, the most recent iteration of this article regarding the attack here has the guy who got mauled calling it a boar (male). I would love to know how he was able to determine that while he was getting attacked, in fear of his life, and was getting chewed on. Personally, I think he is F.O.S., and that it is an attempt on his part to ensure that the bear gets eliminated. Myself, I have spent a couple thousand hours in the field leading bear viewing trips in Alaska and probably seen over 150 different individual bears of all sizes, shapes, and of both sexes, and it's still difficult to tell a boy bear from a girl bear at times.

 

sometimes the unrealistic, fantasy, liberal opinions that are aired here really amaze me. it is somewhat suprising that people with these views are fishermen of any sort, let alone involved in an aspect of the bloodsports. but, i guess catch and release makes it okay, soothes the conscience and justifies the involvement. can't help but shake my head.

 

I respect anyone who can use the term "bloodsports" with a straight face.

Hats off to you, sir! :thumb::thumb:

 

Did anyone besides me see this coming??

A number of years ago when the polling community (with the help of many PETA commercials) voted to ban bear baiting and cougar hound hunting, the scenario was written.

I do not hunt either way, but I had a feeling the population of both animals would balloon with the lack of predators. I've spent many years in the woods as a bowhunter and found both species to be amazingly wary and adaptable. The ability to keep their numbers in check with the increasing loss of their habitat meant only one thing, CONFRONTATION!

So here we are people, we are now in the critter's kitchen and they are pissed off......

I am not a big supporter of either hunting method but I know there is very little chance of controlling this population without a better season. The loss of habitat is inevitable with the population boom but the people living there should also understand their domaine. I would do whatever it takes to defend my family against 2 legs or 4 but that defense needs to start before you enter that domaine.

I personally feel the Ollala bear (male or female) was in it's domaine and had the sh!t scared out of it by a couple of dogs and a biker, this bear should not be shot. I'm glad the guy is OK and we'll see what kind of advocate he becomes.

 

deleted

 

Interesting thread. Several posters have expressed a belief that "it's their habitat" and we are encroaching. Chad pointed out that, at one time, Seattle was "their habitat" too.

So... where is our habitat? If you follow this line of thinking to it's logical conclusion there must be a line between our habitat and "their habitat". How do you define this boundry? Who determines the position of this boundry? Is it moveable or stationary? Since more wild animals are killed by motor vehicles than any other human interaction, should roads through "their habitat" be closed?

Since the ban on hound hunting of bears and cougars the WDFW has instituted a permit only hound hunt in 5 Washington countys. My understanding is that this hunt is allowed because of growing cougar populations. Perhaps it's time to expand this hunt to include bears. It appears that these animals are losing their fear of humans and pursuing them with dogs may actually reduce the net number of bears that get a death sentance after human/bear interactions.

In the interest of full disclosure I'll readily admit that I have an eight foot cougar rug hanging on my wall and it gives me pleasure every time I look at it. The meat was damn good too.
I haven't killed a bear in a long time and I'm not a big fan of bear meat but I might tree a few of them if it was legal.

JonB

 

Interesting thread. Several posters have expressed a belief that "it's their habitat" and we are encroaching. Chad pointed out that, at one time, Seattle was "their habitat" too.

So... where is our habitat? If you follow this line of thinking to it's logical conclusion there must be a line between our habitat and "their habitat". How do you define this boundry? Who determines the position of this boundry? Is it moveable or stationary? Since more wild animals are killed by motor vehicles than any other human interaction, should roads through "their habitat" be closed?

Since the ban on hound hunting of bears and cougars the WDFW has instituted a permit only hound hunt in 5 Washington countys. My understanding is that this hunt is allowed because of growing cougar populations. Perhaps it's time to expand this hunt to include bears. It appears that these animals are losing their fear of humans and pursuing them with dogs may actually reduce the net (number of bears that get a death sentance after human/bear interactions.

In the interest of full disclosure I'll readily admit that I have an eight foot cougar rug hanging on my wall and it gives me pleasure every time I look at it. The meat was damn good too.
I haven't killed a bear in a long time and I'm not a big fan of bear meat but I might tree a few of them if it was legal.

JonB

Hey JonB,
I'd sort of left the conversation after I'd said my peace. I had to smile tho when from some of the responses a few people had me pegged as an anti-hunting, (gasp), "liberal". I too have a bear head on my cabin wall. As well as a bear skin, (different animals), a stuffed Bobcat, a trophy elks head, antelope head, etc., etc... None of which I killed.
I have family members that are avid hunters. The predators, were not killed by anyone I know. We got the bear head from a kids church summer camp. It was the mascot of the camp for years until it became politically incorrect to have an animal head on the wall. I have a Taxidermist in the family and I think that's where the bear hide came from. The cat was hit by a car and stuffed by said relative. Meat from all the other animals I'm sure was delicious.
I don't hunt because I don't know how to, not because I don't approve of it. Killing animals for food is one thing. Killing them to thin out the population, so as to prevent disease, starvation etc. is, in my opinion acceptable too. I'm not sure if I really appose thinning the bear and cougar population if it keeps the rest of the population healthy. I think it's a combination of humans moving into their habitat and over population that's driving them into our areas that are the cause of a lot of the bear, cougar attacks.
I can see ChadK's point to a degree. Very few issues are black and white. But I draw the line when people enter the habitat and then are so quick to grab a gun when a predator acts like a predator, or (like some individuals have pointed out), like a mother defending her cubs. I once had a guy tell me that he shot a deer because it was eating the apples that had fallen off the trees in his orchard. He said that he was afraid the deer would start eating the apples on the trees once they were done eating the fallen ones.
The ultimate question is; Where do you draw the line? We humans, being the "top of the food chain" and, (in theory), more intelligent, should have the wisdom to restrain ourselves as to where we live, and/or to accept the results of our actions/choices. I'm one "liberal" that doesn't blame a predator for acting as he's been genetically predisposed to do. (So shoot me.)

By the way JonB; You said you had a cougar skin on your wall. You also said the meat was delicious. Did you really eat it. (Predator meat is suppose to taste pretty fowl . What did it taste like? And don't say "like chicken"!. :clown:

 

ANyone see Moldy CHum today? SOme rough bear attack photos. Don't look at it on a full stomach.

 

By the way JonB; You said you had a cougar skin on your wall. You also said the meat was delicious. Did you really eat it. (Predator meat is suppose to taste pretty fowl . What did it taste like? And don't say "like chicken"!.

Of course I ate it! My wife and kids ate it too!
Cougar (and bobcat) meat tastes VERY MUCH like lean pork. I think I could convince you that it was a pork chop if you didn't see me cut the steaks off a cat. Think about that next time you're having some sweet and sour mystery meat. :rofl:

It's funny how we often have pre-conceived notions about the taste of game meat. I don't know how many times people have told me that they thought duck and goose meat was greasy. They obviously have never actually tried eating wild duck or goose because nothing could be farther from the truth! I eat a lot of duck in the winter and it is leaner and less greasy than the leanest roast beef. For those of you who haven't tried it, duck (and goose) breast is red meat.

I'm still waiting for someone to tackle the habitat question:

So... where is our habitat? If you follow this line of thinking to it's logical conclusion there must be a line between our habitat and "their habitat". How do you define this boundry? Who determines the position of this boundry? Is it moveable or stationary? Since more wild animals are killed by motor vehicles than any other human interaction, should roads through "their habitat" be closed?

JonB

 

Sorry, don't have an answer for you. It's like the "wet land" issue. How long does a piece of land have to be wet during the year to be declared and protected from developers/owners? I don't know where you draw the line. It's like abortion, when does life start? ( Ooops!!! What a can of worms. I should never bring up That issue.)
The bottom line I guess is that it's a definition that's wide open. Good Luck!!!
Too heavy for this time in the morning; I'm off to work...