Guy shoots sow bear with two cubs - What would you do?

[H Wally]

I feel I should reitterate. The sow was NOT tearing the walls out of a cabin, it was a very very very derelict shed. The shed was built around a very old gutted camp trailer, but that's more because they didn't want to bother building a proper structure. The bear walked through the community to reach an old standing logging bridge that is the only means of crossing the local river for several kilometers. The bridge is rarely, if at all used.

As for the shooter, he's a fellow with an interesting history. In short, he's an abusive drunk who gets wasted and has junk fires all through summer during fire bans (we are in a rain shadow that results in extreme heat and no rain for 4 months of the year) then leaves them to be dealt with by neighbors. It is also coming to light that he may not have a firearms liscence and may have a prohibition against owning a gun. I would give him the benefit of the doubt if he had shown any signs of descency in the past, however no go so far.

 

[Republic of Alberta]

Ok, maybe reread....




How was it a problem bear? Because it was familliar to a community, doesnt mean it was a problem animal, nor should it have been dispatched.
It was tearing apart an apparent Eyesore. Hwally, did the animal have a history of breaking onto cabins, or cattages? Likely not. calling the CO's was the best answer IMHO, and he should have dont this first...

Another bear guilty by association IMHO.

Wow some people are stupid.

 

[DarrylDB]

Wow some people are stupid.

case and point if thats the best response you can come up with...
I was out trolling after work today, and know what I caught???

 

[Vygur]

All you guys saying that it was best to shoot the bear in order to prevent it from "attacking humans" are talking like a bunch of liberals. Only a liberal would "do something in order to prevent something that may not happen", the bear didn't attack anybody yet- who knows maybe it liked humans but when you say kill something to prevent it from killing humans is like saying ban all firearms before someone can shoot someone.

 

[RobSmith]

All you guys saying that it was best to shoot the bear in order to prevent it from "attacking humans" are talking like a bunch of liberals. Only a liberal would "do something in order to prevent something that may not happen", the bear didn't attack anybody yet- who knows maybe it liked humans but when you say kill something to prevent it from killing humans is like saying ban all firearms before someone can shoot someone.

Obviously you're not very familiar with bear behavior ... Which happens to be the most dangerous critter found in North America, an omnivore known to attack anything and everything that happens to stand in it's way, sometimes for no apparent reason.

 

[senior]

Obviously you're not very familiar with bear behavior ... Which happens to be the most dangerous critter found in North America, an omnivore known to attack anything and everything that happens to stand in it's way, sometimes for no apparent reason.

Bears around my area get a very simple test.
If they run, they live
If they stand & test the air showing no fear, they come in harms way

All you guys saying that it was best to shoot the bear in order to prevent it from "attacking humans" are talking like a bunch of liberals.

Accordingy to Vygor I guess that makes me a liberal

 

[bone-collector]

Obviously you're not very familiar with bear behavior ... Which happens to be the most dangerous critter found in North America, an omnivore known to attack anything and everything that happens to stand in it's way, sometimes for no apparent reason.

well I am and I can tell you a bear that wonders through town dosnt make it a threat to anyone, comments like the above come from uneducated people that shouldnt have the right to hunt or shoot..cuzz the rest of us are tired of getting a bad name from your actions!

 

[powder burner]

call the authorities

 

[the_big_mike]

well I am and I can tell you a bear that wonders through town dosnt make it a threat to anyone, comments like the above come from uneducated people that shouldnt have the right to hunt or shoot..cuzz the rest of us are tired of getting a bad name from your actions!

Thats what the bearman and his girlfriend thought.

Then they were eaten.

 

[Demonical]

I think in a case like this the bear ought to be trapped by a C.O. Let them deal with it. For sure it's the easy answer.

BUT... I'd like more info'.

The bear was apparently ripping the siding off a shed... how extensive is the damage? It's possible there is some justification, but I dunno... I wasn't there.

 

[RobSmith]

What makes me nervous is that this specific animal was routinely seen around human activity and appeared to be unaffected by people, bad news right there. Completely different from the odd, chance encouter out in the boondocks.

 

[bone-collector]

Thats what the bearman and his girlfriend thought.

Then they were eaten.

coming from a mall ninja advertising zombie survival kits

now that I have made my funny for the day, black bears are probably the least confrontational animal in the wild, YES they do have moments were there is a braver than usual one, but a black bear thats a resident to the area for 3 years? has to be shot by johnny gunsmoke? give it up, CO's get my tax dollars in pay cheques to do what... .... .... OH YEA deal with wildlife issues !

using examples of the bear guy that got eaten....thats fine please be smarted than the thread he was into G R I Z L I E S not black bears

if indeed bears scare you that much please by all means STAY HOME dont go out in the woods

What makes me nervous is that this specific animal was routinely seen around human activity and appeared to be unaffected by people, bad news right there. Completely different from the odd, chance encouter out in the boondocks.

so what? hell I know a resident bear thats been coming back for 5 years now and sometimes brings a friend with him, he hasnt hurt anyone in the subdavision or any property other than mauling a crab apple tree here and there, people enjoy seeing wildlife in there yards, dosnt mean they have to be afraid of it, but common sence usualy prevails, my kids ride dirt bikes and quads past bears daily on the back roads , should we fence off the road and shoot every trespassing bear there is on it? 12 years of guiding for bear in northern BC and 25 years of hunting them and only ONCE have I had an issue with a black bear and no the bear didnt die over it, only twice I can remember bears being destroyed in the subdavisions for being to nosy or problems, if this bear had been on a porch thrashing a screen door then hell yea dust his fuzzy black azz, but 3 years and on the edge of the community?

as for odd chance encounter in the boondocks, how many bears would you like to see in 1 day? 10/20/50? thats arangable in northern BC

 

[TPK]

Well .. lots of differing opinions as usual .. (and that's good). My opinion is that the guy was in the wrong and it also sounds like he wasn't even on his own property.

One thing I shake my head at and wonder about is why why why would "relocation" even be considered for a species not at risk. A species in fact that has a General Open Season (GOS). Does not seem like money well spent to me and I would bet there are a lot of other areas where CO's could make better use of that money.

 

[RobSmith]

as for odd chance encounter in the boondocks, how many bears would you like to see in 1 day? 10/20/50? thats arangable in northern BC

I'll admit, my encounters with blackies are counted on one hand, 3 of which are under 50 yards, too friggin close for comfort, but I had the opportunity to get outta dodge and did. I also have an old friend who got his camper trashed by a blackie, still has the claw marks on it too ...

 

[dw]

Geez people.....if I shot every bear that was hanging around our small community there would be a ton of dead bears. Some people need to get out more.

 

[Republic of Alberta]

12 years of guiding for bear in northern BC

Judging from your phisical condition you must guide close to the road, I think that expains your lack of bear experience...er I mean problems.

 

[walksalot]

Hey guys, lets show some debating skills here. Getting personal shows a person is backed into a corner and is desperately searching for a come back.

 

[DarrylDB]

Judging from your phisical condition you must guide close to the road, I think that expains your lack of bear experience...er I mean problems.

Look ma, its a ####ing troll...

walks, ROA has proven time and time again he has none...

 

[DarrylDB]

I'll admit, my encounters with blackies are counted on one hand, 3 of which are under 50 yards, too friggin close for comfort, but I had the opportunity to get outta dodge and did. I also have an old friend who got his camper trashed by a blackie, still has the claw marks on it too ...

But why is it too close for comfort Rob? Is it your inexperience with them, have you been misled?
Im not being a smartass, Im actually wondering...


I learned the hard way at 14 years old how quiet bears could be.
I had a young bear walk right up behind me at a campfire midday, and snort. Not only did I #### my pants, I spent a long time afraid of bears.
And it was a waste of time. Had that bear had any intention of hurting me, I would have been just that. but it was a nosey animal that I scared as much as it scared me when I turned and screamed. It took off like a bat out of hell. It really bothered me, and I was in a "kill em all" mentality until I did a project on bears in grade OAC Biology. the more i read, the more they facinated me.


last summer I spent a big part of it educating a bunch of cityiots (and no, im not talking about you, but a bunch of non hunters) about black bears and the common misconceptions they've been lead to believe. Like a sow running down anything that comes between her and her cubs.
Black bear cubs learn right form the getgo to climb trees to avoid predators, and mom will try to get your attention, and lead you away. there are a tonne of grizzly traits that are pinned on to the blackie, but just arent true. but I've been 10 feet from a black bear more times than I can count on both my hands and toes unarmed, and havent felt threatened. Like dogs, Black bears are very predictable animals

I've been around bear long enough to trust my instincts. If the hair stands up on the back of my neck, Im shooting it, I dont care if its 200 yards away, or 20. this has only happened once where I knew I was dealing with a delinquent...
It just so happened to be an adolescent male.
there is alot of good info around on black bear behavior, and I think everyone should have a bit of knowledge of the behavioral traits of the animals they hunt. Not only will it open your eyes differently on a very smart, and strong, but more often than not doscile animal, it will also help you to become a more successful hunter if you hunt them.

It will help dispell the myths, and help you to walk around outside without a gun.

Bones believe it or not is a hell of a reference guide, as well are a few others here that have more bear kills under them than I've seen live bears...

 

[gitrdun]

I would shoot the bear too.

Only a stupid hippy would try to protect a bear that has a long history of no fear of humans.

Once again you've set out to give the old phrase "better to be thought an idiot than to open one's mouth and remove all doubt" some deep substance.