Posted on 11/01/2011 5:20:26 PM PDT by SJackson
BILLINGS, Mont. — Wildlife agencies in the Northern Rockies go to lengths to warn people of the dangers of grizzly country — from signs advising hikers to carry Mace-like bear spray to radio ads that warn hunters to take care when stalking elk in bear habitat.
But after two hikers were fatally mauled in Yellowstone National Park over the summer, officials acknowledge their drive to make visitors “bear aware” is not reaching everyone. As a result, park officials, bear biologists and others say that in coming months they plan to sharpen a bear safety message that was already under review in hopes of preventing future maulings.
“We thought we were doing pretty good,” said park biologist Kerry Gunther, pointing to a 30-year average of one bear-caused human injury annually in Yellowstone. “Maybe we were getting lucky.”
Many bear education campaigns focus on saving the animals themselves, part of a broader effort to recover a species once nearly wiped out by hunting and other pressures. Slogans such as “a fed bear is a dead bear” highlight the increased likelihood of bears becoming nuisances — and getting euthanized — if they get used to eating human food or garbage.
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtonpost.com ...
Yogi Bear gone bad
Signs are nice, I think spray is mandatory, concealed carry is very nice even if it's a crime to discharge a weapon, but what might help is open carry of long arms.
“grizzly safety” That says it all.
This is the Disney-facation, if you will, of animals. In this dichotomy, animals are just like humans. Heck, they even launch into cute song and dance numbers sometimes. But the premise is they’re just like us and pose no harm. Nothing could be further from the truth. Especially where very big, very powerful , high-order mammals like a grizzly bear are concerned. To a ‘’grizz’’, humans are either a source of food and the human is either going to be a problem in getting to it or they’re not, or humans ARE the food. And unless you’re packing some major firepower, Mr. Grizzly Bear is going to get what he wants and if you’re in the way, well, too bad for you.
Just watch what an adult swan will do to a baby goose if it catches one. You’ll lose any notions of the noble romantic creatures of myth and poetry in a hurry.
Boom Boom
Problem solved.
I hear you. For myself I never had any illusions about animals of any size or shape. Heck, I wouldn’t hold it against my cat Scooter, if I keeled over dead and was laying on the floor and he started in on me. Nothing personal, I know, he’d just have to eat.
Crossing the Rockies from Alberta to B.C. in August, my wife and I saw four bears (Grizzlies?) alongside the highway. First we saw a mother and two cubs, and further down we saw what looked like maybe a lone male. Very large specimens.
Even Bambi is very dangerous this time of year. It's rutting season.
We don't have grizzlies here, but black bears aren't harmless, especially at camp sites. They love humans. If some don't store food properly, they will wait until nightfall, sneak into the campsite, find the food and get an easy meal. What are the campers going to do about a bear in their campsite eating the food? The same thing I would do. Nothing. Even with my pistol. I'm getting out of there.
The bell curve would suggest there is a certain percentage of folks who cannot conceive there are critters in the wild that view them as food.
Sheesh....the “government” has been trying to get this message out for 100 years or more.....read “Playing God in Yellowstone”.....it’s the usual government bureaucracy creating work for themselves in order to perpetuate their jobs. (and worse).
I remember an old sergeant saying: “Y’all can’t change stupid, they was born that away”. Seems fitting for most of the park service.
In all reality if one is able to raise a wild animal until it needs to be released it is amazing how very, very cute young wild animals start out being. No Disney-facation can begin to compare to their preciousness. I believe that it is because The LORD made animals to be loving "friends" before the fall of man and the curse upon the earth and it's inhabitants due to man's rebellion from The LORD. Deep within the human psyche is the knowledge of how things are suppose to be and the desire to return there. The reality now, of course, is that you do not in any case want to underestimate the power of a wild animal to do harm. Someday, I believe very soon, after the return of The LORD, things will go back to the way they were originally intended to be and once again animals will be our friends.
Isa 11:6 The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid; and the calf and the young lion and the fatling together; and a little child shall lead them.
Isa 11:7 And the cow and the bear shall feed; their young ones shall lie down together: and the lion shall eat straw like the ox.
Isa 11:8 And the sucking child shall play on the hole of the asp, and the weaned child shall put his hand on the cockatrice' den.
Isa 11:9 They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain: for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea.
Isa 11:10 ¶ And in that day there shall be a root of Jesse, which shall stand for an ensign of the people; to it shall the Gentiles seek: and his rest shall be glorious.
They’re called wild for a reason. Even the average housecat is barely a step removed from it’s wild cousins. The Good Lord made these creatures as HE did and and hard -wired these instincts into them for their survival. To believe other wise is not only to doubt HIS wisdom, it’s fool-hardy and dangerous.
You are perfectly right for the present age and in general people are foolish to think or act otherwise. From my post you responded to:
The reality now, of course, is that you do not in any case want to underestimate the power of a wild animal to do harm.
When The LORD first created animals they were not "wild". They are now and for this present time your statement holds true, but soon, according to His Word, they will again be as He first intended when He created them, loving. Thank God that after a horrific time before the end of this age, a new age is coming in which the lion and lamb will lie down next to each other and a little child shall lead them. This broken time of sinfulness and cursing is the aberration and soon to be over. This is a wonderful truth and a great hope!
Rom 8:18 For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time [are] not worthy [to be compared] with the glory which shall be revealed in us.
Rom 8:19 For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God.
Rom 8:20 For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected [the same] in hope,
Rom 8:21 Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God.
Rom 8:22 For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now.
Rom 8:23 And not only [they], but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, [to wit], the redemption of our body.
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