This time, in Alaska, where a sow grizzly with her cubs attacked seven teenagers in an outdoor survival school. All were injured, two with nearly life-threatening injuries.
I was going to get more than a bit snotty here, wondering if the "Wilderness Family" series of movies (from the mid seventies) were still doing their damage by playing down the fact that "These are WILD animals! What part of "wild" escapes you?".
Jeff Millar (Houston Chronicle movie critic at that time) considered them irresponsible, predicting:
"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..."
But, this appears not to be the case. From what I've read so far, the teenagers seem to have been well-instructed, responsible, and level-headed. They were certainly level-headed in the aftermath and very likely that is why they all survived.
This may well be a case of, if you spend enough time in proximity to these creatures, well guess what?!!! You're apt to encounter them.
So ...
When the Himalayan peasant meets the he-bear in his pride,
He shouts to scare the monster, who will often turn aside.
But the she-bear thus accosted rends the peasant tooth and nail.
For the female of the species is more deadly than the male.
~Rudyard Kipling - "The Female of the Species"
-
"When faced with a problem you do not understand,
do any part of it you do understand; then look at it again."
~(Robert A. Heinlein - "The Moon is a Harsh Mistress")do any part of it you do understand; then look at it again."
About to comment here for the very first time?
Check Where'd my Comment go?!!! to avoid losing it.
-
Tuesday, July 26, 2011
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
Followers
Stat Counter
4 comments:
Listening to the kid they interviewed last night, it was not a "standard" momma Grizzly attack.
I suspect the same thing that already happened with cougars and wolves is going into the grizzly population-- mankind isn't a possibly dangerous predator in their "mind."
You may well be right.
In the couple of stories I read of this in cident, I didn't notice if the area they were in was a place where the local wildlife is protected from hunting.
A few weeks ago, Webutante posted Sow Grizzly With Cubs Kill Man In Yellowstone in which she considered the animals in "protected" areas far more dangerous because they had never been taught by experience to fear hunters.
-
I got the impression they were on a big reserve-- that usually means not much hunting, and a higher rate of idiots that feed the bears.
and a higher rate of idiots that feed the bears.
That feed them, in more ways than one apparently.
Sorry - absolutely could not resist. :(
Post a Comment