Black Bears Sometimes Attack.

[Bear Paw Jack]

Here is an interesting story by a Canadian hunting guide who was stalked by a Black bear. According to the guide, the Black bear obviously intended to kill and eat him.

I know two different long time hunting guides who say "Don't ever take a Black bear for granted. There is always that one out there who wants you for lunch."

https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=238&v=Lt3t2YHz1D8

 

[coach]

That what apex predators tend to do.

 

[gramps]

Yep, the guide showed that bear who was the APEX predator in the area!
gramps

 

[Mobuck]

Black bears are far more likely to make a predatory attack than grizzlies.

 

[GunnyGene]

This is why human beings invented weapons 50,000 years ago. We don't have any built in ones.

 

[tinman]

I find it odd that he did not have a gun of his own with him. Not real smart depending on the skills of a "customer" in a life and death situation......

 

[Bear Paw Jack]

I know several guides that don't carry a gun, unless they are guiding for something dangerous. This guy was trying to get his client a moose. One I know was killed by a croc along a river in So. Africa. No gun either. I'm not that tough, but he got away with it for many years.

 

[Heliman]

There are LOTS of black bears, not to mention cougar, where I hunt and walk the woods. I would NEVER consider not being armed appropriately. Maybe ignorance has something to do about it......or maybe I am just a touch paranoid......

Dave

 

[gramps]

Only intelligent people are paranoid! The pilots I know who had crashes were very low time or high time. Getting complacent has its punishment.
gramps

 

[mistermills357]

Yes, they will kill you and eat you. I wonder why animal rights groups, don't go out into the forest and hug bears?
It seems like a logical, next step in their thinking.

 

[Bear Paw Jack]

Yes, they will kill you and eat you. I wonder why animal rights groups, don't go out into the forest and hug bears?
It seems like a logical, next step in their thinking.

Personally I'd like to see them do more bear hugging. They make re-think their garbage.

 

[Number9]

I've never been attacked by a black bear, yet... had a few bluff charges.

A friend was attacked in his own yard.. the dogs let him know something was up.. he shot the bear with his .44 Mag.

Had a black bear to kill a 6-year-old girl, and seriously injuring a 2-year-old boy and the children's mother, several years ago up here on Chilhowee Mountain. Locals seem to think it was a problem bear moved here from the Smoky Park.

My yellow lab lost a front leg fighting a bear in the back yard.

It's common to see them where I live.. a bear sanctuary is only a few miles east of where we live.

You NEVER trust any wild animal.. if you go where they are known to be... you go armed!!

 

[Bear Paw Jack]

Sound wisdom.

 

[contender]

In my business,, (animal damage control,) I get calls about bears. The State doens't allow me to do any trapping or removal etc of bears because they are a big game species, and are under different rules & regulations.
Yet,, I used to tell folks how rare it was to have a black bear attack. I no longer do that. Why?
Well, for many years,, we did not have the bear population we now have. Hunting kept them under control, and we had many places to hunt. When this region experienced a huge population growth,, especially in the form of gated communities, it created a lot of sanctuaries, and safe places for animals to live, breed, and their populations to grow. And with these gated & private communities,, hunting is forbidden,, and the animals have thrived. Add in the tree hugger types,, educated by Disney, who feed them, etc,, bears have lost a lot of fear of humans.
As they continue to expand territory, and their population grows,, more & more human/bear conflicts will happen.
I no longer tell folks that the chances are low,,, (even though they are still low in comparison to other things,) of a bear attacking them. I teach & preach bear safety.

 

[Heliman]

In the state of Washington, bear baiting and hound hunting was eliminated several years ago. The bear sightings and encounters have increased significantly. It is only a matter of time before someone has a negative experience. During hunting season I saw 2 couples walking the dirt roads in the hunting woods. They were wearing orange vests to protect them from hunters, but were ill equipped for critter encounters. They should have a minimum of bear spray, but all they had were walking sticks.... When asked if there worried about bear and cougar encounters they informed me that the odds were astronomical of having trouble. I just said okay and continued on my way. Ignorance is bliss I guess.

Dave

 

[Taterman]

In the state of Washington, bear baiting and hound hunting was eliminated several years ago. The bear sightings and encounters have increased significantly. It is only a matter of time before someone has a negative experience. During hunting season I saw 2 couples walking the dirt roads in the hunting woods. They were wearing orange vests to protect them from hunters, but were ill equipped for critter encounters. They should have a minimum of bear spray, but all they had were walking sticks.... When asked if there worried about bear and cougar encounters they informed me that the odds were astronomical of having trouble. I just said okay and continued on my way. Ignorance is bliss I guess.

Dave

I bet they have fire insurance on their home though.

 

[contender]

Ignorance is bliss,,, but stupidity hurts!

When I encounter those types of comments,, I say; "Ok,, but do YOU want to be the exception to that statistic?" Or,, even better; "We'll use that as part of your epitaph, and in the explanation to your kids."

 

[Bear Paw Jack]

Ignorance is bliss,,, but stupidity hurts!

When I encounter those types of comments,, I say; "Ok,, but do YOU want to be the exception to that statistic?" Or,, even better; "We'll use that as part of your epitaph, and in the explanation to your kids."

Good response. I agree with Taterman, I bet they have house insurance and the odds of it burning down is astronomical as well.

 

[Pal Val]

I go in the woods, I carry my bear gun. I had two encounters years ago, before waking up to the danger, both while fishing. In both instances, I threw the catch at the bear to make my escape. One was a pretty scary close call. There will be no next time.


I now carry a .44mag SBH every time I go in the woods, for fishing, hunting or just hiking.

 

[Pat-inCO]

Ignorance is bliss I guess.

Can't disagree, but why then are there so many unhappy snowflakes? :shock:

. :wink: .