Jayhawkhuntclub":z9vh0k1f said:
How many bear attacks happen in the US in a typical year? Anyone know? I assume it's several hundred thousand after all the discussions I've encountered about it on the internet. Seriously, does anyone know?
That WOULD be interesting to know. Herrero might have something in his book==I'll try to look tonight if I remember. We need to set some parameters:
Black vs grizzly vs polar?
wild vs captive?
fatal vs non-fatal?
wounded vs unprovoked?
Just the US, US & Canada, including Alaska?
In the 2 years I studied bears, I had 3, maybe 4 aggressive interactions (1 bluff charge, 2-3 instances of snorting or jaw-popping). We had one "attack" (Convict teasing a wild bear at a work camp with a candy bar), one the year after (Boy Scout had his face licked while sleeping out and punched the bear, who swatted him). Several B & E's, prowlings, etc.
Now, I wouldn't consider any of these "unprovoked". Teasing a bear with a candy bar? In my case, this bear had been provoked by a research assistant for several days (seeing how close she could get to him) and when I got out of the truck, he was a LOT closer than I thought he was. In the other instances, he was in the brush about 50 feet and was just verbalizing. In one case, it was night and I never saw the bear, just heard him (and I had my GSP with me and she started growling first). The Boy Scout and the break-ins were just unsanitary conditions in camp/home.
My scariest experience was when was tracking a bear getting closer and closer, then felt something brush my leg. I had a skunk standing on my foot! I had to wait 1/2 hour until I saw him emerge from under my truck and walk away.
Anyway, I'll see if I can find something out for ya!