Bear attack in campground at Yellowstone

[SMSP]

http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/montana-be...ry?id=11277179

[SMSP]

Another reminder of the inherent dangers of camping in bear country.
Anybody been to this campground (Soda Butte Campground in Yellowstone)?

My condolences to the family of the deceased and a speedy recovery for the injured.

They indicated that improper food storage was not an issue.
It would interesting to hear from other eye witnesses, if any.

SMSP

[Fiddleback]

The subject Soda Butte campground is not in Yellowstone National Park. It is outside the Park's boundaries and is a Gallatin National Forest campground.

FB

[TrailSquirrel]

The subject Soda Butte campground is not in Yellowstone National Park. It is outside the Park's boundaries and is a Gallatin National Forest campground.

FB

About 2 outside the boundary

[bulldog49]

I see thay caught the prepetrator, it was a sow with 3 cubs that returned to the campground this morning. She will be put down and the cubs kept in capitivity.

It was reported that all food in the campground was properly stored in the campground's bear proof food lockers. Nothing the campers did wrong, just an agressive bear.

[hellomolly]

Nothing the campers did wrong, just an agressive bear.

Aren't bears just bears? As in... sometimes aggressive, sometimes not? Mother bears with cubs are particularly protective. And the campers were in bear country. Don't bear encounters come with the territory? As in, they took that risk by camping there?

I just don't see why this bear is being put down.

[TIDE-HSV]

Aren't bears just bears? As in... sometimes aggressive, sometimes not? Mother bears with cubs are particularly protective. And the campers were in bear country. Don't bear encounters come with the territory? As in, they took that risk by camping there?

I just don't see why this bear is being put down.

Perhaps because she also killed a man in the attack?

[hellomolly]

Perhaps because she also killed a man in the attack?

So if she attacked but the person was just mauled and survived, she should be allowed to live? Do you think the bear has the wherewithall to think to itself, "hmm, I better stop mauling this person before I kill them... just want to give them a little swat to remind them not to hang out on my turf?"

Bears kill things... they're carnivores and predators, and the man camped there was in bear territory. 2+2=4, you know? It's not rabid or abnormal behavior for a bear to attack and/or kill something in its territory. It's actually pretty common, whether that "something" is another bear, some other creature or a human.

[bulldog49]

Aren't bears just bears? As in... sometimes aggressive, sometimes not? Mother bears with cubs are particularly protective. And the campers were in bear country. Don't bear encounters come with the territory? As in, they took that risk by camping there?

I just don't see why this bear is being put down.

It killed a man who was sleeping in his tent with no food to attract the bear. It mauled two other people, also asleep in their tent with no food. These people were in no way threatening to the bear, it attacked at 4 am, it was not a situation of a mother protecting her cubs. This bear sought out it's victims.

So, yeah, it needs to be put down.

[hellomolly]

It killed a man who was sleeping in his tent with no food to attract the bear. It mauled two other people, also asleep in their tent with no food. These people were in no way threatening to the bear, it attacked at 4 am, it was not a situation of a mother protecting her cubs. This bear sought out it's victims.

So, yeah, it needs to be put down.

I disagree. How do you know the bear did not feel threatened by the humans? How do you know she sought them out (which I think is complete bull, btw). They were in the space where she lives and she probably did not know who or what they were. This unknown entity most likely appeared threatening to her and, as a mother, she was in ultra-protective mode. Her behavior does not seem unusual to me at all. She was/is a protective mother bear doing what her instincts told her was the best course of action when encountering an unknown threat. What she didn't do was think to herself, "Huh, what jerks these campers are, hanging out on my territory. I think I'll show them a lesson." She was simply doing what cames naturally to her.

If you went swimming in shark-infested waters, would you be surprised if a shark tried to eat or attack you? Even if you weren't pouring chum in the water and shooting at the bear? I think not.

[hellomolly]

I disagree. How do you know the bear did not feel threatened by the humans? How do you know she sought them out (which I think is complete bull, btw). They were in the space where she lives and she probably did not know who or what they were. This unknown entity most likely appeared threatening to her and, as a mother, she was in ultra-protective mode. Her behavior does not seem unusual to me at all. She was/is a protective mother bear doing what her instincts told her was the best course of action when encountering an unknown threat. What she didn't do was think to herself, "Huh, what jerks these campers are, hanging out on my territory. I think I'll show them a lesson." She was simply doing what cames naturally to her.

If you went swimming in shark-infested waters, would you be surprised if a shark tried to eat or attack you? Even if you weren't pouring chum in the water and shooting at the bear? I think not.

That second to last sentence should end in "shark," not "bear." Sorry!

[bulldog49]

Bears kill things... they're carnivores and predators, and the man camped there was in bear territory. 2+2=4, you know? It's not rabid or abnormal behavior for a bear to attack and/or kill something in its territory. It's actually pretty common, whether that "something" is another bear, some other creature or a human.

Actually, this is very abnormal behavior for a sow with cubs. If a sow with cubs senses danger, i.e humans, other bears, wolves, she will rapidly leave the area rather than risk an encounter. She will only attack if she believes her cubs are in imminent danger. This is very bizarre behavior, more typical of a young male griz.

[mtnkngxt]

That second to last sentence should end in "shark," not "bear." Sorry!

So yeah your line of thinking does not compute. A bear in the middle of the night killed a man, and mauled two others. The bear regardless of why it did it, has now killed a man and tasted human blood. Best thing for everyone is for the offender to be put down.

[full conditions]

So yeah your line of thinking does not compute. A bear in the middle of the night killed a man, and mauled two others. The bear regardless of why it did it, has now killed a man and tasted human blood. Best thing for everyone is for the offender to be put down.

Wait, wait, wait... have you ever tried human blood? It's terrible. Way over rated.

[bulldog49]

I disagree. How do you know the bear did not feel threatened by the humans? How do you know she sought them out (which I think is complete bull, btw).

She went from tent to tent, ripping into them and attacking the sleeping occupants inside. That's how I know she sought them out.

[hellomolly]

Actually, this is very abnormal behavior for a sow with cubs. If a sow with cubs senses danger, i.e humans, other bears, wolves, she will rapidly leave the area rather than risk an encounter. She will only attack if she believes her cubs are in imminent danger. This is very bizarre behavior, more typical of a young male griz.

Ok... I've read/heard otherwise, but assuming you're correct, perhaps she believed her cubs were in imminent danger.

She went from tent to tent, ripping into them and attacking the sleeping occupants inside. That's how I know she sought them out.

How do you know she did not come across the sleeping campers unexpectedly and, upon encountering them, felt threatened and feared for her cubs? Oh wait, you don't.

Best thing for everyone is for the offender to be put down.

Everyone... who's that, camper who is already dead? What about the cubs, which will now be raised in captivity without their natural mother? What about the bear, whose line of "thinking" (I hestitate to use that word but for lack of a better term) led it to believe it was threatened and attack, who is now being killed for, as far as we know, just doing what came naturally to it?

[bulldog49]

Ok... I've read/heard otherwise, but assuming you're correct, perhaps she believed her cubs were in imminent danger.



How do you know she did not come across the sleeping campers unexpectedly and, upon encountering them, felt threatened and feared for her cubs? Oh wait, you don't.





Everyone... who's that, camper who is already dead? What about the cubs, which will now be raised in captivity without their natural mother? What about the bear, whose line of "thinking" (I hestitate to use that word but for lack of a better term) led it to believe it was threatened and attack, who is now being killed for, as far as we know, just doing what came naturally to it?

Your responses show you know nothing about "normal" bear behavior. I've explained why a normal sow with cubs would not react that way. No point in continuing this.

[hellomolly]

Your responses show you know nothing about "normal" bear behavior. I've explained why a normal sow with cubs would not react that way. No point in continuing this.

Well, I've read and heard otherwise, so therefore, my own knowledge leads me to disagree with you. And if you think there's no point, stop posting.

[Alligator]

I know it's real difficult considering the positions taken, but try not to be disagreeable.

[TIDE-HSV]

So if she attacked but the person was just mauled and survived, she should be allowed to live? Do you think the bear has the wherewithall to think to itself, "hmm, I better stop mauling this person before I kill them... just want to give them a little swat to remind them not to hang out on my turf?"

Bears kill things... they're carnivores and predators, and the man camped there was in bear territory. 2+2=4, you know? It's not rabid or abnormal behavior for a bear to attack and/or kill something in its territory. It's actually pretty common, whether that "something" is another bear, some other creature or a human.

Can't argue with that. Don't intend even to try...