With two fatal grizzly maulings in Yellowstone National Park this summer, it's understandable if some feel intimidated about hiking in the park's backcountry. Would you cancel a hike because of those incidents?
Neither published records nor park officials can cite another year when bear attacks killed two Yellowstone visitors. Were this year's attacks just an extreme coincidence, or is it getting more risky to hike into grizzly bear habitat?
Whatever the reason, tell us if this summer's incidents have you canceling or reconsidering hiking into Yellowstone's landscape.
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Comments
My wife and I were in Yellowstone/Grand teton NP two weeks ago. In one day in YS we were lucky enough to see a wolf and two Grizz-- one with two cubs. What a thrill-- something we will never forget. The remote danger of attack is not a factor in visiting as far as we are concerned. Nothing is going to happen as long as you follow the rules and use common sense.We are against any killing of Grizz or anyother wildlife in the parks unless they have become habituated to humans and have lost all natural fear.What some advocate is basically turning the parks into a pseudo-zoo with no risks to humans?? If thats what you want then go to the zoo in your local town-- personally I want a wild and free Yellowstone.
And what does that mean? Did that mean that the volunteer thought pepper spray was ineffecive? There seem to be some gun advocates from the west who are afraid that widespread use of pepper spray will somehow infringe on their rights. . but I can't imagine how someone would recommend NOT taking a proven deterant into bear country . . sure it might not be a 100% guaruntee that you will safe but it sure would improve your chances, even if you had a gun as well. Pepper spray is easy to use, the effects on humans only last about 40 minutes and the effects on bears last for hours. I have seen bears sprayed effectively first hand and although it is not "brains in a can", used with common sense it has saved lives of both humans and bears. It also has other uses . . I have only used mine on a swarm of mad bees chasing me and it worked well. After all the hours I spent with bears as a bear viewing guide and the years I have spent tracking bears I have never had to use it on a bear out on a trail. Used it once on a bear in a building eating dirty laundry . . saved the laundry and the bear did not come back. It also works on the most dangerous animal in the woods . . man.
NO!
When a human goes hiking in bear country, the human becomes part of the food chain. If that means you are not at the top, then you are taking a chance. I will continue to hike and camp in the backcountry, but be prepared, cautious and aware of the possibilities. If I die from a bear attack, I would not wish the bear be put to death as I was in its territory, he/she was not in mine.
Same thing for swimming in the ocean. If you become fish food, well, you became part of the food chain when you entered the water.
Now, go out and enjoy nature without following it up with a lawsuit if you or someone in your party exits nature in a body bag or is left behind as scat on the forest floor.