Bear Attack -- New Mexico

[john gault]

I wonder if he had food in his back pack? There was an attack this week in New Mexico of a woman storing food in her tent:

http://www.kob.com/article/stories/S....shtml?cat=504


The above is Newb's post on another thread, but I wanted to respond in a separate thread so not to get into two separate bear incidents.

From the above article:


A bear driven frantic by the smell of food terrorized a campsite in the Sandia Mountains Sunday morning, dragging a woman out of her tent to get to the food stored inside.
Game and Fish officers say the bear pulled the woman out of the tent, mauling her leg. The woman fought back, hitting the bear to scare it, but it killed the campers' dog before retreating.
"Once (bears) smell food, they're going to investigate it. Uunfortunately, they had all their food in their tent with them while they were sleeping; that had a lot to do with attracting the bear to their tent," said Donald Jaramillo with the NM Dept. of Game and Fish.
Game and Fish officers have been tracked the bear all day Sunday, eventually found it and killed it.

That is the dumbest analysis I've ever read.

:-?

[john gault]

A better article http://www.santafenewmexican.com/LocalNews/Bear-attacks-woman-camping-in-the-Sandias

ALBUQUERQUE — A 250-pound black bear sought for dragging a woman from her tent was captured and killed Monday at a picnic area in the mountains east of Albuquerque, authorities said.

The male bear believed to be about 5 years old was caught in a trap that officers set at the Dry Camp picnic area in the Sandia Mountains.

“We are as positive as we can be that we got the right bear,” said Martin Frentzel, a spokesman for the New Mexico Game and Fish Department.

Officers with the agency used dogs to follow the bear’s trail for several hours after Sunday’s attack, but the animal eluded them.

Authorities said the bear’s feces contained hair that appeared to match that of a dog killed and eaten during the attack. The bear was taken to a veterinary lab at the University of New Mexico for a necropsy.

Officers said the 20-year-old woman, whose name was not released, was camping with two male companions when the bear pulled her from a tent to get to food stored inside.

It dragged off the tent, leaving a trail of chips from the camp to a gully about 50 feet away.

The woman told authorities the bear released her after she punched it in the nose. She and the two men then ran for their truck, climbed on the roof and called for help.

The woman received minor injuries to her hip and calves and was treated at University of New Mexico Hospital, authorities said. She was expected to recover.

The three campers had been awakened about 3:40 a.m. by something pawing at the tent and the growls of the small dog they had with them.

Game and fish Sgt. Donald Jaramillo said the bear apparently smelled food improperly stored in the tent.

Officers have received reports of at least 16 bear sightings in the mountains in the past week. One report involved a bear breaking into a vehicle.

Since Friday, the department has killed or authorized the killing of three black bears in the Sandia and Manzano mountains. All three were believed to be dangerous.

Department director Tod Stevenson warned people visiting forested areas that bears have a tremendous sense of smell.

“No one should keep food or trash anywhere near where they sleep,” he said. “Even toothpaste, deodorant and some insect repellents can attract bears.”

The department is attributing the number of aggressive bears to cub survival during the past two years and dry conditions this spring.

[Blue Jay]

Wow, I think that's the fourth posted bear attack thread in the last few days. The bears are clearly massing for the attack. Quick everyone under their beds. Why exactly, is posted here, details of every time a bear sneezes anywhere in the world, even though its thousands of miles from a white blaze?:banana

[john gault]

I like to scare people and hikers make my job easy; who would have guessed outdoorsy type people are so fearful:D

Kill all the bears...and pitbulls


:sun

[Newb]

I've seen thru hikers driven frantic by the smell of food as well. Very dangerous.

[Tipi Walter]

Kill all the bears...and pitbulls


:sun

You're on the wrong website. You need to find a Human Supremacy website.

Once again, a camper, probably a dreaded car camper, does something very stupid: Food in the tent, and then who do the rangers kill? The bear! The rangers need to get re-educated about road closings, RV campground closings, and stop the endless Rolling Couch Potatoes from invading what's left. And lock up the motards who keep food in their tents. The bear "smelled food improperly stored in the tent." 'Nuff said.

[skinewmexico]

Bear population has exploded in NM. Probably something to do with the closed hunting season.

[Appalachian Tater]

Anyone with a pet knows animals will seek food. A cat can drag a roast or ham that weighs twice as much as it does onto the floor in just a few seconds if you go in another room. A dog will do all kinds of tricks for a treat. Raccoons, porcupines, mice, squirrels, etc. will go for food.

Bears, too. Normal behavior. I guess another bear will have to die because of human stupidity.

[Cookerhiker]

...Normal behavior. I guess another bear will have to die because of human stupidity.

Unfortunately it looks like you're correct Tater re the KY bear. I just read this update from the Lexington Herald Leader:

http://www.kentucky.com/2010/06/29/1328711/crews-still-searching-for-black.html

[skinewmexico]

Yeah, we can dream of the day when humans die, and bears live.

[Sierra Echo]

The rangers need to get re-educated about road closings, RV campground closings, and stop the endless Rolling Couch Potatoes from invading what's left. ." 'Nuff said.

Oh My!!!!!
That was the best laugh I have had all week! Thank you!

[left turn]

Wow, I think that's the fourth posted bear attack thread in the last few days. The bears are clearly massing for the attack. Quick everyone under their beds. Why exactly, is posted here, details of every time a bear sneezes anywhere in the world, even though its thousands of miles from a white blaze?:banana

i think it makes for a good read it's just news, i get tired of hearing about a lot of things on Whiteblaze but i'm not making snide remarks about it in threads.

[Newb]

It amazes me that the bear would attack with the dog present, as well.

[Blue Jay]

i think it makes for a good read it's just news, i get tired of hearing about a lot of things on Whiteblaze but i'm not making snide remarks about it in threads.

I'm an expert on snide remarks and that sure sounds like one, good job.:banana

[mega82]

New Mexico officers catch bear near attack site

The Alamogordo Daily News
The Associated Press
Posted: 06/28/2010 11:17:46 AM MDT





ALBUQUERQUE - The New Mexico Game and Fish Department says it has captured a bear at the site where a camper was attacked by a bear early Sunday.
Game and Fish spokesman Martin Frentzel says the bear was caught Monday in a live trap that officers set up at the site in the Sandia Mountains east of Albuquerque. Officers using dogs had followed the bear's trail for several hours Sunday but the animal eluded them.
Frentzel says the department is as positive as it can be that the bear captured Monday is the animal responsible for pulling the woman from her tent to get to food stored inside.
The woman is recovering from minor injuries to her hip and calves. She told authorities the bear released her after she punched it in the nose.

[txag]

Just catching up on this issue - this bear was caught later and killed after eating camper's dog. Positive identification due to dog hair found in scat. Here is a TV report - WARNING - dead perp on video.......

http://www.krqe.com/dpp/news/environment/bear-attacks-woman-camping-in-sandias

Bear was after potato chips and candy in tent. I'll hang my food out here, thanks....

Also your standard "man punches bear to save goat" article:

http://taosnews.com/articles/2010/07/09/news/doc4c2cf4967cd77691216085.txt