Bears In The News

[AZLOT69]

Eight Foraging Bears Killed In Tahoe


Posted: 9:44 am PDT June 11, 2010
Updated: 10:02 am PDT June 11, 2010

INCLINE VILLAGE, Nev. -- The heavy snow and lingering winter conditions in the Sierra are forcing black bears into the valleys around Lake Tahoe, where an unusually large number of them have had to be put to death in recent weeks.

Nevada Department of Wildlife biologist Carl Lackey says officials already killed eight bears this spring, compared with a typical death toll of just one or two by this time.

"I attribute that to the late winter weather conditions," he said.

Unlocked food or trash lures the bears into trouble in cars and homes. Adding to the problem, Lackey said, is Washoe County has no ordinance requiring bear-proof trash receptacles.

Hot spots are centered near South Lake Tahoe, Tahoma and Highway 89 near the Squaw Valley and Alpine ski resorts.

Cristen Langner, a wildlife biologist for California Fish and Game, said the California side of the Tahoe basin has had three permitted bear deaths this year, which is not uncommon for this time. Each of the deaths was also a result of residents not locking up food trash or food, she said.

Langner echoed Lackey's words of caution and said residents should always be bear-aware and keep doors locked and food secure.

"The big thing is that every time these bears are successful (finding stored trash or food) it just reinforces that behavior," she said.

Ann Bryant, president of the Homewood-based BEAR League, said she's concerned about the death toll.

"I'm pretty shocked because it's only going to get worse as the season goes on," she said.

Bryant said based on calls, sightings and onsite observations, the BEAR League has observed more newborns this year than any other, as well as an increased number of sightings and conflicts.

Usually bears aren't spotted out of hibernation until May or June, Bryant said, but she's seen them as early as March and April this year.

[Pivo]

@chumley Agreed. It’s not the state of Wyoming, the fact that enforcement is rigid in Wyoming especially In areas with grizzlies.

[chumley]

https://www.popsci.com/story/animals/wh ... rs-hiking/
Bears are lazy and prefer easy flat walks on trails.

[SuperstitionGuy]

@chumley
How much did this grand study cost the American taxpayer?
Sounds like another boondoogle to foist upon the taxpayer to me.

[Alston_Neal]

@SuperstitionGuy
The Society of Comatose Recalcitrant Unavailing Ursidae. SCRU U

[Pivo]

This reads as if the camper was able to deploy bear spray, yet was still attacked and ultimately died from his injuries.

https://www.usatoday.com/story/travel/n ... 565492001/

[chumley]

@Pivo Thanks for sharing. I appreciate when the media reports on the full result of the investigation rather than letting the initial event serve as a clickbait headline, only to disappear without more information or followup. While there are still some unanswered questions about this one, it seems to be a good reminder that wildlife can be unpredictable, even if you are an experienced guide. A sad end to what was apparently a very, very rare set of circumstances.

[Pivo]

@chumley
Last Sunday in camp Belinda was talking about a Facebook poll of hikers in Idaho, it asked wether you carried bear spray, or a firearm when in bear county? The overwhelming answer was a firearm.

[chumley]

@Pivo
I wonder if there are any studies that compare the effectiveness of humans avoiding bear incidents with bear spray vs firearms. One of our trusty peer-reviewed science journal readers must be able to find this?

[FOTG]

This is a great read, its about a hiker who killed a mom grizzly with a gun not too long ago in the Wind River Range. The hiker admits some tremendous regret over killing the bear as it ultimately sealed the fate of the two cubs as well. I thinks its a pretty good read and shows some nice reflection from the person who killed the bear, as bear spray would have most likely meant everyone went home alive that day, including the bear and her two cubs.

Personally, I have mulled over also carrying a gun on my summer trips up there, but I am currently ok with just my bear spray, which I have used exclusively over the last several years as a solo hiker and backpacker from Banff to Montana, Wyoming, etc. I do however, use the bear spray cannister carried and recommended by Nat Geo while on assignment in Alaska, I think it holds six more ounces of spray and stated to be effective on even the largest of bears.

The man who shot the mother grizzly actually initiated a remarkable interview with the Jackson Hole News & Guide. He expressed deep remorse and wished that he had chosen to carry bear spray instead of a firearm that day. And while he and his friends did some things right – travelling in a group of four, with two of them carrying bear spray – their experience points to a broader problem, especially as more and more people venture into grizzly country every year.

That problem: lack of preparedeness, especially on a mental level.

https://mountainjournal.org/a-hiker-sho ... izzly-bear

[Pivo]

@friendofThundergod An old friend of mine did survey work in Alaska, the crews were not allowed in the field until they had attended Bear School and were armed.

The employer also had an approved list of firearms.
Something bad must of happened, to have those requirements.

[FOTG]

@Pivo

https://www.outdoorlife.com/survival/al ... ar-attack/

Maybe this is why. Although, interesting to note he says he does not think if he had a gun on him it would have helped, the attack happened too fast.

He said the brown bear charged so fast he doubted the firearm would have offered any protection anyway. He has learned not to survey alone, however.

[big_load]

crews were not allowed in the field until they had attended Bear School

I flunked out of bear school because I had trouble ripping off the bark to get at the ants.

[azbackpackr]

Significant peer-reviewed research and study has shown that the best solution for hikers to avoid grizzly bears is to stay out of grizzly bear country. That's what I do. It works great!

[big_load]

On a related note, my only bear encounter on foot so far this year happened two weeks ago. Raspberry canes are abundant along our local trails and the berry season was just ending. We met a small to mid-sized bear in one of our favorite spots, enjoying the berries just like us about thirty yards up the trail. The bear reversed course and went back into the woods. We turned back, too, since proceeding toward it seemed unwise.

The last bear we encountered near food was in blueberry season. It was much bigger and made a definite show of standing its ground. We just slowly backed away and it returned to business.

[skillpore]

Women killed by a blackbear( canadian land shark) in Canada
https://www.themeateater.com/conservati ... ting-trees

One of my favorite youtube vids grizz running at a group of fishermen
[ youtube video ]

[AugustWest]

https://www.ammoland.com/2018/02/defens ... z73NSg8Xio

Interesting quasi-statistical analysis

[LindaAnn]

.357 magnum for all hikes
.44 magnum while hiking in grizzly or moose country
can of Frontiersman bear spray as a last resort

The chances of ever having to use any of the three? Very low, but I’d rather not regret not bringing something in the moment I needed it.

[chumley]

@AugustWest
I will say this ... a firearm has far greater range than bear spray does. But that may also encourage unnecessary discharge during a bluff charge that was never going to result in an incident. But there's no way to know the prospective outcome when looking back on an incident report.

[AugustWest]

@chumley
I'll take distance every damn time

[kelly14]

@AugustWest Throw wind into the mix and bear spray might only go a few feet and some of it comes right back into your own face.