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Re: [RC] Bear - rdcarrie <<I'm guessing that there was something wrong with this particular bear. Black bears are usually pretty non-aggressive and even fairly timid. Very sad situation, but certainly not the norm with black bears. >>
Yes, this is unusual behavior for a black bear, but it doesn't necessarily mean that something was wrong with it. There have been numerous records of black bears attacking people. When grizzlies attack, it's usually due to being surprised, defending cubs or food, or something like that. The recommendation is to play dead so as to not be threatening. But when black bears attack with no seeming provocation (such as protecting cubs), it is often predatory...that is, they are hungry and see people as food. The recommendation is to fight back in these circumstances. I haven't heard of any cubs associated with this bear. It would be interesting to know what the natural food supply is like this year...has there been a drought or some other factor in that area that makes bear food less abundant? Would also be interesting to know if the bear was underweight for its age. If food was in short supply, the bear might very well have been looking to kill and eat the child...as gruesome as that sounds.
Dawn in East Texas -----Original Message----- From: heidi larson <ribbitttreefrog@xxxxxxxxx> To: ridecamp@xxxxxxxxxxxxx Sent: Mon, 17 Apr 2006 10:57:46 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [RC] Bear I'm guessing that there was something wrong with this particular bear. Black bears are usually pretty non-aggressive and even fairly timid. Very sad situation, but certainly not the norm with black bears. I grew up in a fishing resort in British Columbia and one day had 4 different bears in camp, usually the dog kept them away but the fish house attracted them. Only had one sow come after my dad, but she had two 2 year old cubs she was protecting. The others pretty much took off with a clap of the hands. Funny story, when we moved there, 1966 (I was 2) my mom used to tell everyone that she KNEW if a bear ever chased her that she'd be so scared, that she was sure her adrenalin could get her up a tree faster than a bear could chase her. One morning my dad came and got my sister and I out of bed to see a little black bear that was about 50 feet from the house. We were all watching it when my dad clapped his hands and that bear was in that tree in a matter of seconds. My mom quit saying she'd climb a tree to get away from one after that. Lived there 18 years, other than the bears getting into garbage/fish house or someones camper (with a steak thawing on the counter) there were no "real" bear problems. I have LOTS of bear stories, one other large boar had figured out how to open one of the propane fridge's on the back porch and was sitting there enjoying a prime rib of beef and pumpkin pie. I think that may be the open mouth rug I have on my den wall!!! I had an old sway back QH when I was 9 that ran loose and was napping in the sun one day, my dad saw this bear casually walk around the corner of one of the cabins and come face to face with Babe. She snorted and raised her head and he squalled and lit out for parts unknown!!!
heidi
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