Saw my first Bear!

bgak47 · #21 05/19/06, 12:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gideon

---"Did you shoot it"?---Glad you did not have a bad experience with the carnivore. They are meat eaters and potential killers. Hope that bruin doesn't go next door and kill some child or penned farm animal. They are nice to look at and I have seen more of them closer than I ever expect to again. They are like the cute alligators that killed three people in Fla. last week. Black bears kill more people than Grizzlys/Browns/ or Polars. I shoot all potential threats to my family or any one elses then break out the shovel. Do you remember the lady that was killed in her front yard two yrs ago in Arkansas/Alabama. That animal has not been found yet--was it yours? I have no intention of co-existing with wolves/bears/coyotes/panthers. They have no place in human habitation areas. I will not bother them in their woods but if they come into mine they are dead meat. Gideon

Just a little over the top there Gideon! Black bears are omnivores, not carnivores.They would actually be more interested in a garden than you or your family or some farm animal. Polar bears are carnivores because of where they live & the limited food sources in their environment.Brown bears...known as grizzlys...are also omnivores. When they eat meat it is mostly carrion. They will kill if the opportunity is there & they are hungry, but the meat staple in their diet is fish...salmon & trout. I can't argue with your statement that black bears have killed more humans than the other species because they are the species of bear that the majority of people have been in contact with in the Lower 48. I can argue that they are not man-killers unless they are provoked & that your shoot-on-sight policy is wrong & illegal. According to your way of thinking, every predator should be destroyed, & only domesticated animals should be allowed to live. I feel sorry that you can't imagine a world that you don't control.

MTNwomanAR · #22 05/19/06, 03:22 PM

Well put bgak......I feel sorry for people that think they have the right to kill an animal, just because.... Me, I MOVED to the woods 11 years ago....after the first night, I saw a bear.....and took a picture of it. You can see the curiosity of that bear. Now, if I'm ever put in a situation where it's me or the animal, different story, but just to kill any animal....shame.....unfortunately for the animals, there are lots of folks that think like gideon..........that because some humans THINK we run the world, that gives us the right to trample over others that we need to CO EXIST with.....I've lived out in the woods now for 11 years, and see bears at least several times a year, usually in the spring, and usually young, male bears that are trying to find "their" place in the world....I had a yearling cub spend all one day sunday around my house. He was looking for food, and never once came at me like he was going to attack. Yes, I DO realize that they are wild creatures, that is why I never go out side without my trusty side arm..........However, it's been my experience in life that HUMANS hurt me more than ANY animal ever, ever has..................so, by your thinking, maybe I should have shot a few humans over the years, eh gideon??

Sorry Don to hijack your thread...........

Dec429 · #23 05/22/06, 12:25 PM

LaDonna,

You did not hijack the thread, I enjoyed your post.

BTW, I heard the mama yesterday in the woods down behind the trailer. And she sounded pretty close! Wish I could have gotten a glimpse of her.

Gideon · #24 05/22/06, 03:22 PM

Appreciate those who love animals and I do also-those who don't endanger my livestock,pets,and posibly family. Had one of my scouts "treed" on an adorondac, a tent ripped,and a backpack shredded. The lady that was killed two months ago(black bear)in Tenn/NC mts wanted to live also but was denied that privilege. Her family was also mauled while trying to drive it off. Bears are OK as long as they do not attack humans but who knows when they will change from berry eaters to being chompers. Remember the bear nut that was killed last year trying to pet the critters. They are wild and we are just bigger prey that they learn to shy away from--but, still prey. I consider them as I do rattlers/copperheads/cotton mouth moccosins--very dangerous. I simply do not want to live where they do and have to worry about some cougar jumping me while in my front lawn like the lady in Arkansas died from two yrs ago. If I see one I will be like my niece and belong to PITA(people eating tasty animals)(and wearing their fur). If they quit killing people then I would stop killing them.