[pct-l] self protection recourse?

Wed May 20 13:23:44 CDT 2009

Hi, Richard,

I had and have no problem understanding why a bear would want my food. 
Unfortunately, we have taught them that we have food and they have learned 
how to get it. The best we can do is utilize methods that makes it harder 
for them to do so, like bear boxes and canisters.
I believe we can peacefully coexist.

When the bear charged me and I felt threatened, I understood that he was 
just protecting what he considered "his food," but I also realized that he 
could seriously injure or kill me.

My question is, after the bear physically assaults me and I am being ripped 
apart, is it my fault, because I provoked him by wanting my food back? I 
understand what you're saying. We are in his "home" and are responsible for 
having conditioned him to look to us for food. It is a recognized risk, 
being attacked by an animal (that has the power to kill me) for my food, 
that we all assume as backcountry hikers. It can and has happened. It is 
stupid to assume that I have any right to get my food back while in his 
home, but how far can I go in my efforts to scare him away?

The Alaskan guides say fire is the only way. One guide questioned said that 
all he carries is a lighter and his shirt. His idea was to quickly remove 
his shirt, ignite it, and use the flames to scare the grizzly away. He said 
that bullets only piss them off.

So we all must realize that we are just visitors in the bear's home and must 
respect his desire for our food. If he can get it, we are further teaching 
him bad habits. Bears are just after our food. They are not territorial.

But what about the lion, grizzly, or wolf (any other wild animal capable of 
killing humans) who might decide that we, by our mere presence in his "home" 
walking down the trail, are a threat and attack us? Can we no longer head 
out into the mountains without fear of death because we have no right to 
self protection when attacked?

I imagine the answer is "yes." Do we all truly realize this when we head out 
to the lake for an over-night with the kids?

Mtnned
----- Original Message ----- 
From: <richardl at ufp.com>
To: "pct list" <pct-l at backcountry.net>
Sent: Wednesday, May 20, 2009 10:30 AM
Subject: Re: [pct-l] The weapons question

>A legitimately attacking bear? So let me get this straight. We, uninvited, 
>invade this bear's 'home' and we are carrying a weapon so that we can 
>legitimately shoot and kill a bear trying to get our food. Umm, I think you 
>have some entitlement showing. If youre worried about a bear attack, how 
>about not going into bear country?
>
> r
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: ned at pacificcrestcustombuilders.com
> Sent: Wednesday, May 20, 2009 10:10am
> To: "Bill Burge" <bill at burge.com>, "pct list" <pct-l at backcountry.net>
> Subject: Re: [pct-l] The weapons question
>
> Late last night I wrote an email to a friend that I want to share here.
>
> I refer to one attack that happened to me early in 1974 and partially
> re-tell of another that happened later that summer. If I had not had those
> experiences, especially the one which was physical, my thoughts or 
> questions
> on this subject would be more theoretical rather than practical. When I
> worked as a Backcountry Wilderness Ranger for Sierra NF I associated with
> many stock packers and public with horses and llamas and many of them were
> responsibly armed to protect their animals. I didn't fear the weapon, I
> trusted the person, got to know them, and it was forgotten. However, it 
> was
> reassuring to know that someone in the backcountry was around to protect 
> me
> with sufficient force should I need it. With the rise of the mountain lion
> in the south and the grizzly and wolf in the north, the anti-weapons
> question still doesn't make sense.
> ________________
>
>
> If I had been attacked and mauled (or worse) back in '74, I would hope 
> that
> I would have had it within my rights to effectively and definitively fight
> off my attacker. As it is now, I believe, if I were to shoot and/or kill a
> legitimately attacking bear in a NP, I would be imprisoned, lose my 
> freedom,
> for doing so. In a NP I have greater fear because of just that 
> possibility.
>
>
>
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