Bear Attack!

“How about pepper spray? Just give your hiking buddy a shot in the eyes and you're home free!”

“Bit - it just hit me what you were refering to. The movie title blended with th scenario in my mind........”

“Interesting entry from Yogi's CDT journal”

“They were doing that around Yellowstone too; they wanted volunteers to go out and gather hair from strands of barbed wire they placed in various grizzly high-traffic areas. And, they were chumming the area for grizzlies with fish guts!”

“How about pepper spray? Just give your hiking buddy a shot in the eyes and you're home free!"
aero
03:40:08 PM

ROTFLMAO”

“Somehow I doubt Grizzly sows in heat sound like Slim Whitman.... but what the hell I do I know.”

“I think it's like an old biplane landing.....if you can walk away away from a bear encounter, it was a good move.

I'm a lot more afraid of polar, grizzly & brown than I am of black bear.(familiar w/ blacks) The bears that I am most afraid of has been fed by folks in parks/populated area's. I watched one rip a garage door off. Most wild bears are afraid of people & stay away. My biggest problem (bushwacking) is using a radio (w/ earbuds) and not hearing them until they're very close. I've just stood there in a bluff charge. The hardest part was continuing on where they were because it was the only way out.”

“I've been told bear meat taste like chicken.”

“The bears have been told human meat tastes like chicken :)”

“.....but only some of them try it and like it. ;-)”

“Sounds like the other bears are chicken.”

“Bear attack takes on greater menace
Teens pawed and bitten by prowling cubs
Friday, November 19, 2004
BY BRIAN T. MURRAY
Star-Ledger Staff
The encounter last weekend between three bears and two Boy Scouts at a camp in Warren County was more harrowing than originally reported, as the bears pawed at the teenagers for an hour, bit one of them and attempted to bite the other, according to a report by state wildlife investigators.

The boys, who were later vaccinated for rabies, cowered on a rock as they fended off the two 60-pound cubs and the mother bear at the Yards Creek Scout Reservation in Blairstown on Saturday night, wildlife investigators said.

One of the boys was bitten twice by a cub. The animal first bit down on the boy's left arm -- leaving four scratch marks as the youth pulled away -- and then bit the boy's right hand, leaving three puncture wounds, according to a Division of Fish and Wildlife report obtained by The Star-Ledger on Wednesday. The second boy escaped injury when the second cub bit his coat sleeve -- but missed his arm -- and tried to pull him off the rock, the report said.

The state Department of Environmental Protection did not release the report until last night -- after being pressed by The Star-Ledger-- leaving officials from the Central New Jersey Council of the Boy Scouts to field questions about the incident. The council initially reported the incident as a brief, minor encounter with two bears, and said only one bear had "scratched" a scout's hand before the cubs ran off.

"We didn't have all the information at the time, but since then, our guy has been working with the state. Our base concern was and remains that the boys are safe," said Marc Richardson the council's executive.

"We already have an education program that teaches everyone entering our camp to beware of the bears. We're going to continue that. But we simply have too many bears there. I know it's controversial, but we probably need a hunt," Richardson said.

The identity of the boys, ages 13 and 14, is being withheld by state and scouting authorities.

News of the weekend attack spread quickly throughout Warren and Sussex counties, and the DEP's refusal to release details until last night has led to allegations by the Federation of New Jersey Sportsmen's Clubs that DEP Commissioner Bradley Campbell has been suppressing information on clashes between bears and humans.

Campbell had tried to thwart a bear hunt for next month that was authorized by the independent state Fish and Game Council. However, an appeals court ruled Tuesday that Campbell does not have the authority to block the hunt. Campbell is pursuing another legal battle to close state lands to the six-day bruin hunt, scheduled to begin Dec. 6.

Dante DiPirro, a legal adviser to the governor who works with Campbell, said the report was delayed because it was part of an internal "law enforcement" probe within the DEP.

During a telephone conference call yesterday afternoon, Campbell said he had only learned of the Division of Fish and Wildlife report earlier in the day. The division is part of the DEP and operates under Campbell's direction.

According to the report, Saturday's incident occurred after three Scouts began a compass exercise. The third boy went ahead to plot the course, but left behind a backpack that included a Pop-Tart.

Within minutes, the three bears approached and immediately began ripping through the bag, sending the two Scouts running for cover, according to the report. The cubs spotted the cowering scouts, approached them and began pawing at the boys, the report said.

"As this was occurring, the third Scout returned to find his fellow companions surrounded by bears. He cautiously retreated from the area and ran to the main part of the camp to get assistance from the troop leaders," the report said. "People arrived with pots and pans and managed to chase the bears from the area."

Neither injured boy was hospitalized, but their parents had them both treated for rabies as a precaution. The bear that bit the boy's coat also rubbed its nose on the boy's face, leaving saliva, which authorities feared could spread rabies if the cub was infected.

In its report, the division classified all three bears as dangerous to humans and, under state policy, is recommending that traps be set and the bears be euthanized if captured.

"It should be noted that these same bears had been chased from the main area of the camp just prior to the incident in question," the report said.

Black bear attacks on humans are rare, although three people -- a woman in Canada, a woman in Tennessee and an infant in New York State -- have been killed by bears within the past four years.”

“Friday, November 19, 2004
BY BRIAN T. MURRAY
Star-Ledger Staff
Department of Environmental Commissioner Bradley Campbell's attempt to "take control" of wildlife management in the state could cost New Jersey millions in federal aid.

In a letter released yesterday, the U.S. Department of the Interior threatened to withdraw $2 million in annual wildlife aid to New Jersey because Campbell has violated federal regulations by interfering with a planned bear hunt authorized by an independent state agency.

The letter was made public during a hearing yesterday on a lawsuit to stop Campbell from closing state-owned land to bear hunters.

The Interior Department contends Campbell is improperly "attempting to take control" of wildlife management authority bestowed on the independent state Fish and Game Council and the DEP's own Division of Fish and Wildlife.

The $2 million in aid is used for statewide conservation efforts, which include studying and management of wildlife populations like deer and bear.

In a telephone news conference later yesterday, Campbell said he has contacted the federal agency in hopes of settling the issue.

"We will not do anything that will imperil federal funds," he said.

Campbell lost one battle to stop next month's bear hunt when a state appeals court ruled Tuesday that he overstepped his authority by refusing to issue permits to hunters who want to join the bear hunt, scheduled for Dec. 6-11.

Yesterday, the same appeals court heard arguments on whether Campbell again went too far when he banned bear hunters from state- controlled land -- about 198 square miles of a larger, 1,558-square-mile region in northwest New Jersey where the hunt would be conducted.

The Safari Club International, a hunting group, filed suit to overturn that ban.

Campbell has said that if his court battles fail, he will not try to further impede the hunt. Last year, New Jersey held its first bear hunt in 33 years.

Though Campbell has promised to appeal Tuesday's ruling, to the state Supreme Court, he said he has directed his staff to reopen the application process for hunters interested in joining the bear hunt. About 3,600 applications have already been filed, but Campbell has posted a new application on the division Web site for other interested hunters to download and file.

During yesterday's hearing, the judges questioned whether Campbell's order to close state lands was simply another means by which to impede a hunt he had no authority to stop.

"If he can't do it (stop the hunt) by withholding permits, why should he otherwise do it by closing land, effecting the same results?" Judge Anthony Parrillo asked.

The three judges noted that while state laws allow a DEP commissioner to close land to the public, there must be a sound reason to do so.

"If the commissioner's only reason for closing public lands is to stop the bear hunt ... how can that be a reasonable decision?" Parrillo said.

Deputy State Attorney General Barbara Conklin, who is representing Campbell, said the commissioner is trying to pursue nonlethal approaches to controlling the bear population, such as testing birth control serums, but that he does not have the financial resources to simultaneously monitor a hunt.

Anna Seidman, a lawyer for the Safari Club, argued that 117 of the 328 bears killed in last year's hunt were shot on state-owned land. Putting that land off limits impedes the purpose of the hunt, which is to cull a bear population estimated by DEP biologists last year to be as high as 3,200 in just northwest New Jersey, she said.”

“You want I should make dem bears disappear?”

“Just interesting that the political hack trying to stop the bear hunt to placate his pool of voters ignores both State finances (NJ has a multi-Billion $$ deficit) and safety of children.

This is the 3rd attack on children here in the Garden State - yeah one was where the complete moron of a father got the kid to feed donuts to the bear so he could get a 'cute' photo. But the other was also a Boy Scout, dragged out of a tent while sleeping.
The bears here do need to learn to fear and avoid humans.”

“I wonder what bear meat tastes like.”

“I had bear sausage at an Iroquois festival Near Rochachacha.

I remember it was good.”

“Did bears' strange attraction to you start after that?”

“LOL! Never thought of that! maybe it's payback time?”

“Yep. In a big way.

Somewhere, there's a bear asking "I wonder what Bearmagnet sausage tastes like?"”

“I wonder how many interns are wondering the same thing?
last edited: 11/19/04 1:55:12 PM”

“Not too many, I'd wager, and the number is growing smaller by the minute.”

“that area is defineitely bear-heavy. the day after i passed sunfish pond on the at, i saw four bears!”

“That's the camp I attended as a scout.

I think they need to introduce a bear wrasslin' merit badge.
last edited: 11/19/04 2:10:58 PM”

“Bitpusher missed a great chance:

Should've read..."Not too many, I'd wager, and the MEMBERS is growing smaller by the minute."”

“I suck at linking photo's. So I asked a friend on the other side. My first trip;

http://www.montana.edu/amurphy/Phil/philcamp.jpg

brunch:

http://www.montana.edu/amurphy/Phil/phil.jpg”

“Yeah, but he didn't eat you or the tent in the background...Good thing ya hung that bag where you did...uh...you DID hang it Ya?

I know you weren't eaten, you're disagreeing with me on another thread right now....glad you 're okay ...LOL”

“That was the first day of my first bp trip, solo and in the 'dacks. No one else was at the site. My food was up @25ft over a line suspended between 2 trees about 30ft apart. The line attached to the stuff sacks was tied off to a 3rd tree. The bear must have put weight on the connecting line in order for the sacks to flip over the suspension line and hit the ground.

I bought a Garcia after that trip and went back about a month later.

Close up:

http://www.montana.edu/amurphy/Phil/philcamp2.jpg
last edited: 12/14/04 3:54:15 PM”

“Is that where ya got your trail name???


(Divinity makes a note........NEVER hike with Bearmagnet)

;) LOL..heheheheehe”

“Yes, not a day went by on my two trips to the 'dacks without seeing a habituated bear. I even did a day hike after my last trip and ran across a bear.

But on my second trip, labor day weekend, I was the only one with a container and the onlyone from 3 sites that didn't lose some or all of my food to them thar bears”

“You can't fool me, Loverboy. That babe you went overboard on ripped your stuff to shreds, I bet!”

“How long ago was that trip?”

“Shhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh! Please, Bear attack is far more macho than babe attack.”

“Depends on the babe.”

“How long ago was that trip?�
lumberzac
5:06:02 PM


it was Saturday night...”

“And that's his apartment. It's really a mess! :)
last edited: 12/14/04 4:10:48 PM”

“sooooo we're getting personal now huh? BM is sharing his deeper self with us. yeahhhh”

“Sez you. I think it'd be much more macho to be attacked by babes.”

“If I answer your question zac then everyone will remember that I'm a newbie.


2003”

“#&%!$! It was a day hike!”

“I had a few bear encounters that summer as well. I didn't lose any food though. Lucky I guess.”

“i havn't seen a bear yet. everyone else around me has...but not me..
last edited: 12/14/04 4:24:05 PM”

“These bears were going from site to site looking for hangs.

Do you do the counterweight thang, LZ?”

“gem it is because you wake up to freaken early even for the bears
LOL”

“gem, the bears don't get up early enough to keep up with you!”

“I have to find the picture of me with a bear. Up in Canada (gremlin is going to give me hell about this) we wake up to the sould of screams across the lake from us. I get out of my bag and see 2 canoes on the horizon coming straight at us. Two Korean women and 2 kids pull up in tears. They speak no english, but what we could understand, a bear ran them off their site in the middle of breakfast.
4 of us get in our canoes and paddle over to their site and see a small black bear dining. We jump out and try to scare him off, but he is not moving. I tell my buddy to take a picture of me behind the bear. I ran behing him and make a stupid face. I kept it busy, while everyone else got the peeps stuff and we paddled back.

It's a funny picture.”

“Oh, geez. We are even thinking alike here...”

“LOL slacker!”

“�These bears were going from site to site looking for hangs.

Do you do the counterweight thang, LZ?�
Bearmagnet
4:21:17 PM
12/14/04
ignore this user

No, I just didn't camp in the Eastern High Peaks Wilderness.

The bears I saw hadn't figured out that humans have food.”