Posted on 04/23/2008 4:47:39 AM PDT by period end of story
BIG BEAR LAKE, Calif. - The grizzly bear that wrestled Will Ferrell's character in the recent film "Semi-Pro" seemed to obediently follow cues — which made its killing of its trainer with a bite to the neck all the more stunning.
Three experienced handlers were working with the grizzly Tuesday at the Predators in Action wild animal training center when the bear attacked Stephan Miller, 39, said San Bernardino County sheriff's spokeswoman Cindy Beavers.
Stephan Miller is the cousin of training center owner Randy Miller, she said.
Pepper spray was used to subdue and contain the bear, and there were no other injuries, Beavers said. Paramedics arriving shortly after the initial emergency call around 3 p.m. were unable to revive Stephan Miller.
The Department of Fish and Game investigated the incident, but will not decide whether the bear will be euthanized because the attack occurred outside its jurisdiction during a training session on facility grounds, department spokesman Harry Morse told the San Bernardino Sun Tuesday.
Morse speculated that the county animal care officials may decide the bear's fate. A call placed early Wednesday to the county's Animal Care and Control Program was not answered.
(Excerpt) Read more at news.yahoo.com ...
Any human who willingly puts himself in a position where a bear can bite him is pathological. No animal that is capable of injuring a human should ever be trusted not to do so, including domestic animals such as bulls. Wild animals in particular should be left alone or if appropriate, shot.
Treadwell’s girlfriend was also killed. He was basically asking for it. He was a misguided fool, who thought he could live with bears in the wild.
Stephan Miller helped to train the bear, it was his job, and he knew the dangers.
What about dogs?
WHY kill a wild animal for acting wild? Outrageous.
Stephan Miller helped to train the bear, it was his job, and he knew the dangers.
Not to offend any bear trainers out there, but I question whether someone who chooses to "train" bears for a living isn't a little misguided.
If a grizzly bear has my neck in his mouth, by all means, PLEASE use bullets, not pepper spray. It just might give me a better chance at living. Just sayin’.
I hear ya.
Dogs are a little different. One, you have thousands of years of breeding by humans to get desirable traits in their dogs. Two, even the largest of dog breeds tops out around 150 pounds, maybe a little bigger in extreme exceptions. This bear was 7 and 1/2 feet and weighed 700 pounds. Let me write that again - 700 pounds. I don’t see how anyone could be sympathetic to this guy.
I used to think it was funny when we had a real awnry suffolk ram who used to attack the tractor tires. One day he lined up on the front end like something Marlin Perkins would be thrilled by and smashed the grill, 20 gallon radiator, and oil cooler right thru the water pump housing/fan/and main pulley on the engine block. We promptly introduced him to a .410 between the eyes.
As I was saying on another thread - having to do with the mideast - think of this as a metaphor for making “peace” with the “Palestinians”, Hamas, etc. No matter how “nice” they seem to be they are always going to revert to form, probably sooner rather than later.
700 pounds is a small grizzly. They usually top out around 1,100 pounds. From what I’ve heard from others who know animals, the last thing you want to do with a bear is use pepper spray. A 20,000 volt hot-stick would work better. It leaves them dazed and confused long enough to find your egress.
“Predators in Action wild animal training center”
Key words: “Predators in Action”
Wild animals can be trained to some extent, but at some point instinct takes over. It’s just a matter of time.
I have sympathy for him, even though it's a silly occupation. Occasionally an elephant or tiger will go go on a rampage and kill their trainer/owner. These people know the inherent risks they take by getting so close to these animals. Life is a risk: it's even deadly, to us all.
A bear on prozac.......And a few hundred mg of amphetamines for his ADD and you’ve got a bear regulated for grade school. That is until he smells the fish sticks in the lunchroom.
Human with a little pepper? Yum Yum!
It’s too bad that the trainer was attacked and killed, but that a danger the trainer always knew was present. As far as the bear goes, kill it. It will attack again if it remains in captivity and will no doubt either starve or become an even bigger problem if let go in the wild once it finds it’s way back to humans.
It’s too bad that the trainer was attacked and killed, but that’s a danger the trainer always knew was present. As far as the bear goes, kill it. It will attack again if it remains in captivity and will no doubt either starve or become an even bigger problem if let go in the wild once it finds it’s way back to humans.
I can’t determine from the story that the bear actually attacked the guy. At 700 lbs. he might have just been playing. Among mammals some biting is done for affection. When an animal is this big a little too rough playing could prove fatal to a human. Just a thought.
In Treadwell’s case it also resuted in a full bear. He ate Treadwell and his girlfriend.
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.