... The human in the equation should exercise great caution. The human is the one that knows he/she is in a hostile environment at a time in the year where hibernating bears are awakening out of their slumber and are mighty hungry and will eat the first thing they can catch. The human needs to understand that... because the bear does not employ reason or logic and is gonna do what the bear is gonna do... eat something... anything.
Sounds to me like this attack could have happened to anyone. Very aggressive black bear and a rare attack. Wrong place at the wrong time. I don't see how we can blame the victim.
"Those who saw the attack said it happened quickly. No one saw where the bear came from.
Mike Ewald, an investigator with Alberta Fish and Wildlife, said Weafer’s co-workers tried to scare the bear off using fire extinguishers, a water cannon and air horn — “all general things that should scare it off,” Ewald noted.
Employees told him the bear would shy off for a bit, but kept coming back, eventually killing the woman.
“This bear was very determined,” Ewald said, adding that the attack lasted about an hour."
... I'm saying... you, as a human being with reason and logic as standard equipment... need to understand the envirionment you are in... ALWAYS. You need to understand that this is not mid-summer, when bears have been eating out of trash cans and parked cars for a while. It is the time of year when bears are hungry after their hibernation and will go after the easiest prey they can catch. That is why you need to exercise a great level of caution when in the forests where bears live... especially when they are coming out of hibernation... and when they are fattening up in preparation for their hibernation. In both cases, you are their meal of choice because you cannot run faster than a deer. Also, it is the worst time because if there are bear cubs in the vicinity that you wander into... you are pretty much guaranteed to be attacked by an angry mom. Not as a food source, but because you really pissed off the mom. ... You know a simple pre-caution to take? A dog. Dog's are the best early warning system in the world.
Allen Fieldhouse, home of the 2008 NCAA men's Basketball Champions! Go Jayhawks!
Hail, Hail!!!
BEAR SPRAY. Bear spray used correctly has yet to result in fatality for EITHER bear or human. Guns leave both parties dead very often. man shoots bear. Bear mauls man. Bear and man watch each other bleed to death needlessly. Bear spray also teaches a bear that humans have a powerful "sting" just like frodo, and is a more effective deterrant than relocation...bear spray. When my tent was bluff charged by a late october black bear in virginia my dogs (boxers) didn't make a peep...when papa got scared the dogs did too and i couldnt get them to bark at all...we scared him off and then put getaway on repeat!
I can shed a lot of light on how this could happen. I work for (oh no gasp, everyone hate me) oil company. I've been to the north slope many times. When you go out to barren areas, believe it or not but there is bear warnings that when one is sited, no one messes with them and you you take no outside action until the bear has been sighted as leaving and it's a safe environment,. Even with the protocols that are enforced, you can't prevent every hazard. I think it's tragic to hear that happened, and just to shed a little light, regardless, when you fill your vehicle up just know there are people working hard, and risking a lot so you have that choice. You know the choice of filling up your tank.
I can shed a lot of light on how this could happen. I work for (oh no gasp, everyone hate me) oil company. I've been to the north slope many times. When you go out to barren areas, believe it or not but there is bear warnings that when one is sited, no one messes with them and you you take no outside action until the bear has been sighted as leaving and it's a safe environment,. Even with the protocols that are enforced, you can't prevent every hazard. I think it's tragic to hear that happened, and just to shed a little light, regardless, when you fill your vehicle up just know there are people working hard, and risking a lot so you have that choice. You know the choice of filling up your tank.
I tried to express support for people such as you earlier, Matts. Our consumption patterns have led to placing people in places that run considerable risk. We are all responsible for the death of that woman- and the bear for that matter.
People could say, "Why not go get a job at Red Robin?" But that is hardly fair- people are doing what they can to make it in difficult times. Nobody begrudges you a job in the oil fields and if they do... they better not own a vehicle or use public transportation.
I said regrettable. This wasn't an incident where the worker wandered off into the woods hiking and stumbled across a bear. From what I read, the bear attacked the woman on the job site- an area that typical bears want to distance themselves from. This bear clearly had developed a different disposition towards humans.
Relocating animals doesn't always work- in particular with bears that have grown aggressive towards humans. Tagged, they often find themselves back or in another 'trouble' spot.
The bears are doing what is natural to them and we are doing what is natural to us by protecting ourselves. Your dog idea is a good idea for future incidents, but with this incident on record...
You know... we can also stop consuming products reliant on oil for production, shipping, or operating. I'm not saying you have (although you might have)... but it's a little much to suggest our activity in the oil sands is wrong, while at the same time busying ourselves leaving a carbon footprint comparable to that of a small town. That industry exists because we have made it viable. We shouldn't be tossing rocks when we live in glass houses. I'm concerned about our activities as well, but short of not having my vehicle idle... I'm not helping much.
I get what you're saying, Thirty. Most if not all of us are guilty of supporting big oil. I've tried to reduce my consumption of oil and energy in as many ways as I can since becoming concerned about conservation in the mid- seventies. One of the things my wife and I and some friends are looking into is cohousing. With cohousing you have your own space to live in but but us common facilities like laundry or even kitchens. In most neighborhoods with 10 house you'll find 10 washing machines and 10 dryers. That doesn't make sense in a world of dwindling resources and with as many people as ours has. I'm always looking for ways to cut my consumption.
I don't think it's wrong to criticize our activity in oil sands. If we had kept our population in check and all worked harder to conserve and all supported efforts toward alternative energy sources we would not be so desperate to squeeze oil out of sand. But yes, to some extent we're all guilty.
As for the bears disposition toward humans, I guess that is a problem- one most of us helped create.
“The fear of death follows from the fear of life. A man [or woman] who lives fully is prepared to die at any time.”
Brian, the co-housing concept is interesting (though one I'd not be inclined to try). Made me think, though...whether one lives in their own home or co-houses, how is consumption affected or reduced? Wouldn't everyone still have the same amount of laundry to do?
PS to Matts - I can't find the thumbs-up smileyfucker, so I present you with a bee instead :bz
Brian, the co-housing concept is interesting (though one I'd not be inclined to try). Made me think, though...whether one lives in their own home or co-houses, how is consumption affected or reduced? Wouldn't everyone still have the same amount of laundry to do?
PS to Matts - I can't find the thumbs-up smileyfucker, so I present you with a bee instead :bz
Yeah, I have to admit I have reservations about the idea myself. I can only see it working with the right people- but the ones I know who are interested are people that I think would work for me.
Here's some of what cohousing.org says about saving energy:
You also may know that most cohousing communities are environmentally friendly – they often have densely clustered buildings (using less land), shared common facilities (using fewer resources) and smaller homes (using less heat and building materials). Some cohousing groups (such as Westwood in Asheville, NC) have innovative shared heating systems and use renewable energy for heat and hot water. Others use photovoltaic panels for generating electricity.
As for amount of laundry- that depends on the individual. I try to wear outerwear as many times as I can before they look dirty and before I start to stink- hahaha! But I have to admit to being finicky about clean undies and socks! No stinky feet! Hahaha!
“The fear of death follows from the fear of life. A man [or woman] who lives fully is prepared to die at any time.”
I can shed a lot of light on how this could happen. I work for (oh no gasp, everyone hate me) oil company. I've been to the north slope many times. When you go out to barren areas, believe it or not but there is bear warnings that when one is sited, no one messes with them and you you take no outside action until the bear has been sighted as leaving and it's a safe environment,. Even with the protocols that are enforced, you can't prevent every hazard. I think it's tragic to hear that happened, and just to shed a little light, regardless, when you fill your vehicle up just know there are people working hard, and risking a lot so you have that choice. You know the choice of filling up your tank.
Funny, you and I agree on absolutely nada, but we do have oil company (gasp) careers in common.
But now I have to add the random bee, just because I saw it (hedonist above) and I like it :bz
Comments
Here's a clip of JasonP teeing off at Bushwood. He's pretty serious about his game- he never slices!
Godfather is hassling him!
I'm saying... you, as a human being with reason and logic as standard equipment... need to understand the envirionment you are in... ALWAYS. You need to understand that this is not mid-summer, when bears have been eating out of trash cans and parked cars for a while. It is the time of year when bears are hungry after their hibernation and will go after the easiest prey they can catch.
That is why you need to exercise a great level of caution when in the forests where bears live... especially when they are coming out of hibernation... and when they are fattening up in preparation for their hibernation. In both cases, you are their meal of choice because you cannot run faster than a deer.
Also, it is the worst time because if there are bear cubs in the vicinity that you wander into... you are pretty much guaranteed to be attacked by an angry mom. Not as a food source, but because you really pissed off the mom.
...
You know a simple pre-caution to take? A dog. Dog's are the best early warning system in the world.
Hail, Hail!!!
Bear spray used correctly has yet to result in fatality for EITHER bear or human. Guns leave both parties dead very often. man shoots bear. Bear mauls man. Bear and man watch each other bleed to death needlessly. Bear spray also teaches a bear that humans have a powerful "sting" just like frodo, and is a more effective deterrant than relocation...bear spray. When my tent was bluff charged by a late october black bear in virginia my dogs (boxers) didn't make a peep...when papa got scared the dogs did too and i couldnt get them to bark at all...we scared him off and then put getaway on repeat!
"I'll tell ya , I never get any resoect"
Godfather.
People could say, "Why not go get a job at Red Robin?" But that is hardly fair- people are doing what they can to make it in difficult times. Nobody begrudges you a job in the oil fields and if they do... they better not own a vehicle or use public transportation.
I don't think it's wrong to criticize our activity in oil sands. If we had kept our population in check and all worked harder to conserve and all supported efforts toward alternative energy sources we would not be so desperate to squeeze oil out of sand. But yes, to some extent we're all guilty.
As for the bears disposition toward humans, I guess that is a problem- one most of us helped create.
PS to Matts - I can't find the thumbs-up smileyfucker, so I present you with a bee instead :bz
Here's some of what cohousing.org says about saving energy:
You also may know that most cohousing communities are environmentally friendly – they often have densely clustered buildings (using less land), shared common facilities (using fewer resources) and smaller homes (using less heat and building materials). Some cohousing groups (such as Westwood in Asheville, NC) have innovative shared heating systems and use renewable energy for heat and hot water. Others use photovoltaic panels for generating electricity.
As for amount of laundry- that depends on the individual. I try to wear outerwear as many times as I can before they look dirty and before I start to stink- hahaha! But I have to admit to being finicky about clean undies and socks! No stinky feet! Hahaha!
But now I have to add the random bee, just because I saw it (hedonist above) and I like it :bz