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Last updated on August 5th, 2017 at 03:19 pm
A bear/man Yellowstone faceoff:
A man whose face was severely mauled by a grizzly in Yellowstone National Park is a photographer and author of books about grizzlies who also had been attacked in 1993.
The National Park Service said Jim Cole, 57, was hiking alone, off-trail in prime grizzly habitat Wednesday when he was attacked by a sow with a cub. He apparently was carrying pepper spray but whether he used it was unclear.
Of course, according to Australia’s 60 Minutes, this latest bear assault will simply be further evidence of global warming.
- This sounds like one of those “sometimes bad things just have to happen” deals. You can take precautions and all that, but sometimes a bear is just gonna come up out of nowhere and get you.Posted by Grimmy on 2007 05 26 at 01:59 PM • permalink
- “…further evidence of global warming.”
Well, it is, don’t you think? Bears only attack humans because humans are wrecking the world of nature. It’s also why sharks bite people who warm up their oceans. Also why dingoes eat babies in Australia, because babies pollute the dingo environment with those awful disposable nappies.
- I wonder if he’s a practitioner of the Timothy Treadwell school of human-bear interactions? “Nice bear! Good bear! Ooh, I love you SO much, bear! What’re you doing? No – wait – you aren’t supposed to eat me! I LOVE you!”Posted by Blue State Sil on 2007 05 26 at 02:14 PM • permalink
- Seeing his picture, I can believe he was attacked by a bear. All he needs is a head tilt to indicate “come eat me.” Anyhow, it’s spring, and bears have cubs with them in the spring, and mama bears aren’t really likely to be put off by pepper spray when being protective.
For a guy who has photographed a lot of bears he certainly doesn’t seem to have been paying a lot of attention to their behaviors.
Posted by JorgXMcKie on 2007 05 26 at 02:26 PM • permalink
- The National Park System issued the following guidelines today on hiking in bear country:
– There are two species of bear the hiker is likely to encounter in the United States. The smaller species, the black bear, weighs a few hundred pounds and is usually black with a light-colored muzzle, although individuals ranging in color from brown to white may also be encountered. The larger species, the grizzly or brown bear, may weigh upwards of a thousand pounds, and is generally a frosted or grizzled brown in color (again, individuals of other colors may be encountered).
– Hikers in bear country are advised to carry pepper spray as a deterrent, and wear bear bells to alert the bears of their presence. A warned bear is a safe bear.
– If a hiker comes across bear scat, it’s simple to tell which species is in the area. Black bear scat contains berry seeds and smells much like dog scat. Grizzly scat contains little bells and smells like pepper.
Posted by Blue State Sil on 2007 05 26 at 02:33 PM • permalink
- Having seen grizzlies in the wild—and from a safe distance!—I can only note that Jim Cole is one lucky bastard. Especially since he disturbed a she-griz with cubs. The only thing worse than that is to disturb a hungry she-griz with cubs.Posted by The_Real_JeffS on 2007 05 26 at 03:15 PM • permalink
Berman said the bear hit Cole twice on the head and face with its claws, and the park service said there weren’t any bite marks. That indicates the attack wasn’t predatory, but was rather a defensive or protective action by the mother bear.
No, the sow was unhappy due the absence of McIlhenny’s
Cheers
Posted by J.M. Heinrichs on 2007 05 26 at 07:00 PM • permalink
- Some days you eat the bear, and some days the bear . . .Posted by Harry Eagar on 2007 05 26 at 08:30 PM • permalink
- #8 paco –
Sadly, the NPS failed to recommend that hikers use Protective And Camouflaging Outfits for protection. It’s a terrible oversight.
Posted by Blue State Sil on 2007 05 26 at 09:19 PM • permalink
- Well, pepper spray is one way to go; however, this is what I carry into grizzly country.
- This with something like this in terrain like this is how I’d prefer defending against a grizz.
They’re big ol’ furry land sharks. You really dont want to play fair with them.
- Dave S.—Here in California, the cougars are rapidly forgetting they aren’t supposed to want to prey on humans…Posted by richard mcenroe on 2007 05 27 at 01:04 AM • permalink
- Grimmy
Fair when it comes to many bitey, stingy, stopy things comes down to
Fuck
Am
I Rooted!!All very FAIR as you can see.
Posted by thefrollickingmole on 2007 05 27 at 03:58 AM • permalink
– If a hiker comes across bear scat, it’s simple to tell which species is in the area. Black bear scat contains berry seeds and smells much like dog scat. Grizzly scat contains little bells and smells like pepper.
And for the 21st century, NPS had to add that polar bear scat contains carbon offset receipts.
Posted by Some0Seppo on 2007 05 27 at 09:25 AM • permalink
- Was his pickanick basket okay?Posted by Jim Treacher on 2007 05 27 at 09:42 AM • permalink
- If I can swing one, I prefer carrying this in bear country.Posted by The_Real_JeffS on 2007 05 27 at 04:02 PM • permalink
- The National Park Service outlaws carrying firearms on park grounds; they may have a few exceptions for Alaska.
.44 mag pistol is the absolute minimum. Better is a 12 gauge with slugs or a .300 win mag rifle or 45/70 rifle.
Posted by Ernst Blofeld on 2007 05 27 at 05:06 PM • permalink
- When in bear country and you have to set up a position to survive the night, boxing your perimeter with some of these on a tripwire arraignment would go along way to ensuring a secure sleep.
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