Posted on 06/11/2012 7:50:51 AM PDT by marktwain
A brown bear mauled a hiker on an offshoot of the Bird Creek Trail south of Anchorage early Sunday, and the man escaped by scrambling up a tree, Alaska State Troopers said.
Ben Radakovich, 30 of Eagle River, was about three miles from the trail head hiking alone when he rounded a curve and met up with a bear cub.
"(The encounter) scared the cub and the cub turned around and high-tailed it out of there," said Beth Ipsen, trooper spokeswoman.
Then the sow attacked. Radakovich was wearing a backpack, which provided some protection, and carrying ski poles, which he used to fight the bear.
Ipsen said it wasn't clear whether he had time to drop and tuck his body into a ball or whether the bear first bluff-charged. But the bear attack went on for a while, she said.
During a lull, Radakovich managed to break away and climbed a nearby tree. He told troopers a rush of adrenaline propelled him to the top, maybe 30 feet up.
From the tree, he called 911 on his cellphone at 7:42 a.m. He could hear the sow grunting in the brush at first. Then it grew quiet.
---------------------------cut------------------
Radakovich was carrying pepper spray, but everything happened too fast for him to use it, Ipsen said.
(Excerpt) Read more at adn.com ...
Ski poles should be considered “bear toothpicks”;)
Regardless of what is your choice of Bear Repellent, if it is not quickly and easily accessible for use with little warning, it likely won't help you.
Yikes! Somehow I think that FWS wouldn't approve of your methods.
LOL
You forgot the /s tag. LOL
I’d slather my slowest moving friend with bacon grease and walk away....
Can we please say “Amish bear”?
Bears just doing what bears do. When you’re in their house, these things happen.
I bet it did! Lucky for him his arms and legs were still in working order.
They should both sit down and discuss this over a few beers about trespassing into domains.
Actually, the bear was there first.
The hiker was the intruder.
Bear claims SYG
You may give up your position at the top of the food chain if you like. I worked hard for mine, and intend to keep it.
No, park rangers wouldn't approve, but once a bear bites down on a spray can they forever lose any interest they had in human camp sites.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.