IT HAPPENS RARELY BUT WHEN IT DOES it gives all us who use these wilderness resources regularly pause for reflection and reevaluation. I've lived and worked in grizzly country for over 25 years and seen many a grizzly bear in the wild. My frequent house guests have too. By the Grace of God only, every encounter has been benign. Most recently I ran into a big male griz in 2009 during an early morning hike in the Bridger-Teton Wilderness in the Buffalo Valley region of Jackson Hole. It was sobering to say the least.As a result of that encounter----along with the price of gas---I made a decision to spend this entire summer---rather than in my favorite stomping grounds 35 miles from Jackson--- closer to town and the West Bank of the Snake where grizzlies are almost unheard of----yet. My training hikes will be on much more well-trod people trails. Don't want to tempt fate or push my luck too far. Meanwhile, I can only imagine what the wife and family of this man must be going through. What a trauma!
I will say that this area of Yellowstone is known for great brown bear encounters and a threatened sow with cubs is the most dangerous run-in of all. I'll also say again, the bears in Yellowstone National Park are more dangerous and less afraid of people and tourists than the big bears in the Bridger-Teton Wilderness where I hang out because they encounter hunters with high-powered rifles during hunting season each year. That's enough to make most of them act like bears should when they encounter people: they run away rather than towards humans. Still there are no guarantees and one treads this land with caution and respect.
MEANWHILE, whacked out animal extremists aim to radically 'liberate animals' from humans in California.
The more I think about it, the more I think the United States might consider making this left coast state another country.
I remember years ago, when the "Wilderness Family" movies were a fad, and Jeff Millar (Houston Chronicle movie critic at that time) considered them as irresponsible (for their portrayal of creatures in the wild), predicting:
ReplyDelete"A family is on vacation in the woods.
"Their kids come across some bear cubs, just as cute and adorable as they are shown in these movies.
"They will want to play with them.
"And somewhere close by will be the mother..."
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It's true.....no matter how bucolic and peaceful some of these animals seems at a distance, they're still wild and most dangerous. Moose can be the meanest, most ornery beasts of all----and would kill you in a heartbeat if given half a chance.
ReplyDeleteOne of the mistakes we make is to anthropomorphize wild animals (thanks, Disney!), forgetting that they must act exactly like what they are.
ReplyDeleteYes indeed. And actually we anthropomorphize pets too! But that's another post altogether, Fraydna!
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