Grizzly Bears Back in the USA

[Dr. Cheese]

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/08/16/sc....html?src=recg

This is a tricky issue. I definitely support preserving species, but when it comes to an animal like a Grizzly Bear, that position is much easier to take since I live thousands of miles away from any except for the local zoo.

[Barkless Dog]

We have a similar situation with Coyotes here. They have been killing people's pets.
I support having them around as they keep the goose & rabbit populations down. Still I would not be happy about one killing my dogs. I have seen them in the morning on dog walks. One even starting walking towards us while another one disappeared behind a house. I stood my ground and slowly retreated home.
Anyway, the City hired someone to trap & kill them, which they did, but now we have new Coyotes that moved in.

With Grizzles it's a bit different since they kill people. I still support wild life preservation.

People want to live in wild beautiful areas then complain about the wild life bothering them.

[Dr. Cheese]

Coyotes are not much of a concern because they are expanding rapidly, they are the opposite of endangered. Also, they are not a human threat.

I guess my interest in Africa had shaped the way I see preservation because outsiders often fell in love with animals and treated people like after thoughts. Most people living today have no idea what it is like to live around dangerous wild animals.

[Kawai-chang]

Well, the bears WERE here first......

That said, comparing bear attack deaths to oh, say, swimming deaths, makes it very apparent the "threat" is a total panic reaction of chicken farmers and sheep ranchers.

Typical human beings, "I have to kill it to protect my stuff." Waaaa waaaa. Move to a city.

Rant over.

[Absentia]

Gret news, animal attacks happen big deal,
I raise my glass to the cougars, bear, wolf and wolverine populations coming back to Michigan as well.

If I get mauled by a bear it's my fault for being there and not doing what I should be.

[Dr. Cheese]

Originally Posted by Kawai-chang

Well, the bears WERE here first......

That said, comparing bear attack deaths to oh, say, swimming deaths, makes it very apparent the "threat" is a total panic reaction of chicken farmers and sheep ranchers.

Typical human beings, "I have to kill it to protect my stuff." Waaaa waaaa. Move to a city.

Rant over.

Have you ever lived in bear country? I mean lived there, not visit at a Yellowstone or something? I'm not saying that people in bear country don't have a negative bias against bears, but I just think it is very easy to rip fear of bears when they are no where near you.

[i_got_a_mohawk]

Hey, how did you guys know I was hitting up the US this week?

[FL Knifemaker]

My father once shot a bear with his pajamas on.

[i_got_a_mohawk]

Note to self - Don't steal FL_Knifemakers pajamas . . .

[LAG]

"If some of our teenage thrill seekers really want to go out and get a thrill. Let them go up into the northwest and let them tangle with a Grizzly bear or Polar bear or brown bear and get that effect that will cleanse the soul". - Fred Bear


lol

[THand]

Originally Posted by FL Knifemaker

My father once shot a bear with his pajamas on.

He should have been more sporting, and at least allowed the bear time to wake-up and get dressed.

[Kawai-chang]

Originally Posted by Dr. Cheese

Have you ever lived in bear country? I mean lived there, not visit at a Yellowstone or something? I'm not saying that people in bear country don't have a negative bias against bears, but I just think it is very easy to rip fear of bears when they are no where near you.

No, I have never lived in an area where bears were prevalent.

And I'm not ripping the healthy respect that people should have for a dangerous animal. I'm simply commenting on the fact that people choose to live near bears, and their immediate reaction is "kill everything that's a possible inhibitor/threat of/to MY lifestyle choice".

We're supposed to be the most advanced intellect on the planet, and we can't figure out a way to live with the bears, or every other species on the planet?

Humans are a virus, just like Agent Smith said in The Matrix.

[Dr. Cheese]

Originally Posted by Kawai-chang

No, I have never lived in an area where bears were prevalent.

And I'm not ripping the healthy respect that people should have for a dangerous animal. I'm simply commenting on the fact that people choose to live near bears, and their immediate reaction is "kill everything that's a possible inhibitor/threat of/to MY lifestyle choice".

We're supposed to be the most advanced intellect on the planet, and we can't figure out a way to live with the bears, or every other species on the planet?

Humans are a virus, just like Agent Smith said in The Matrix.

If you were born in that region and you have inherited a ranch or farm, or you just have roots their, I don't know if living there is a mere choice anymore than someone living in a bad neighborhood is simply there by choice.

I would also note that all organisms manage their environment to make it favorable to them.

[Kawai-chang]

OK, I'll give you that. But it still looks bad that we can do all of the things we do intellectually, but when it comes to other species we haven't progressed much more than the Neanderthals.

[jmattbassplaya]

Originally Posted by Kawai-chang

OK, I'll give you that. But it still looks bad that we can do all of the things we do intellectually, but when it comes to other species we haven't progressed much more than the Neanderthals.

Look at the way people treat other people of our own species. Quite frankly, it doesn't surprise me that much, unfortunately.

[pedroims]

I am sure that not matter how much grizzlies population grow, they would never exterminate the human beings.

[Dr. Cheese]

Originally Posted by pedroims

I am sure that not matter how much grizzlies population grow, they would never exterminate the human beings.

That's quite true. If they couldn't take us when all we had were sharp sticks, they have no chance now.

I am firmly on the side of conservation. I just empathize with people who live in bear country, and I can understand how they might want a bit more power to manage the population than federal law allows. That said, I know that many locals would just wipe them out if they could get away with it.

[hbarcat]

Originally Posted by FL Knifemaker

My father once shot a bear with his pajamas on.

If a bear was wearing my pajamas I'd probably shoot it, too.

[El Beardo]

Originally Posted by TheNewYorkTimes

Last year a grizzly bear killed chickens near Loma, Mont., a farming community 175 miles from the mountains, the farthest east a grizzly is known to have traveled in the last century. People there were shocked. It was the bear’s second offense, and it was tracked down, trapped and euthanized.

The bear's second offense? I just got a mental picture of a bear mugshot. Anyway.. I also have to side with conservation. Killing a bear for killing a farmers chickens? Maybe we will also start arresting birds that ignore no fly zones. I can understand the farmers concern for their livestock. However, the thought of risking or endangering a species like the grizzly bear for the sake of common chickens sounds dumb. Kind of like leveling exotic rain forest to raise cattle for burgers.

[superfunk47]

Originally Posted by Dr. Cheese

Have you ever lived in bear country? I mean lived there, not visit at a Yellowstone or something? I'm not saying that people in bear country don't have a negative bias against bears, but I just think it is very easy to rip fear of bears when they are no where near you.

I do live around bears, and to me, what he said is spot on. Bears (yes, grizzlies too) just want to be left alone. They're not that mean, unless you really act dumb enough to piss them off - stay away from their cubs and generally just act respectful and cautious around them (read: avoid as much as possible, not get as close as possible to take pictures, etc.) and you'll never have a problem. The other key thing is to be smart about your trash - they don't want to mess with us, but they'll risk it at night if we leave out good smelling trash.