Here is a good one guys. A bear ‘wakes’ a sleeping camper in her tent, and takes a swipe at her with his paw. After 12 stitches to deep puncture wounds on her thigh the woman shares her story with the GJ Sentinel.
What gets me is what the representative from the wildlife division said about the incident,
“It wasn’t that the bear attacked her,” said Randy Hampton, spokesman for the Colorado Division of Wildlife. “The bear came into her tent, and when she surprised him, he took a swipe at her.”
End of Chuckle….
Let me get this straight. A bear enters a sleeping tent and ‘scares’ the sleeping human with its presence. Then, it claws the woman’s thigh with deep wounds and it becomes the campers fault that she is rushed to the hospital.
Why are organizations painting this ‘buddy’, ‘buddy’ picture with humans and wildlife? Bears, like all other wildlife, are unpredicatble. They are not our friends because they are NOT human. They do NOT need humans to ‘cover’ for them.
I am glad this camper is recovering because the outcome could have been much different. The article shares how the campers followed good ‘bear’ procedures with respect to food storage and campsite prep. Good for them. It probably saved their life.
Call a spade a spade gentlemen! This was a bear attack.
Bill Anderson
Muskoka Outdoors
Thanks to the Field Notes Blog for the posting of the original news event.
Thanks for the comment! I was quick to associate your organization and comment with other groups I am very skeptical about. The kind that say the province’s bear population is at risk by hunters who orphan bear cubs and then create a media campaign around this untruth and get our spring bear hunt cancelled. I should let the bitterness go…
Sorry. I was apparently wrong about you and your organization.
I went to your website. Impressive. It looks like it would be worth the drive to Colorado and share in some of your hunting opportunities.
I will let our readers know. Thanks for taking the time to email me and comment.
The incident was not an attack, but was an aggressive action… and there is a difference. The bear was likely attracted to the campsite by a grill (covered in fat from the cookout the night before). The grill was left next to the tent. So, was the bear at fault or was the camper? Well, that doesn’t matter. The bottom line is the bear is being sought and will be put down in accordance with Colorado Division of Wildlife policy.
The Colorado Division of Wildlife does not take a “buddy-buddy” approach to the management of black bears. Policy dictates that any wild animal that acts aggressively towards people will be killed if we can find it. Not much of a buddy-buddy policy.
The CDOW is also cooperating in the first urban black bear study. This study is already providing valuable information about bear and human behavior.
I just wanted to provide you with some facts that might aid in your quick and distant analysis of my ability as a representative of the Colorado Division of Wildlife. We appreciate your continued efforts to educate your readers about interactions in black bear country.
Hunt Proud… Fish Colorado