Bear that nuzzled hiker is fatally shot by state officials

[Judi Lynn]

Source: Associated Press

Bear that nuzzled hiker is fatally shot by state officials

Updated 3:52 pm, Wednesday, September 2, 2015

HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) — Connecticut wildlife officials have shot and killed a young bear that closely followed and touched a hiker and became the center of a debate over the state's wildlife management practices.

The Department of Energy and Environmental Protection said Wednesday the bear was killed at Sessions Woods Wildlife Management Area, where it encountered a woman out for a walk last Friday and nuzzled her leg. The bear had been tagged following previous encounters with officials.

Wildlife officials say the male bear showed aggressive behavior. Animal protection advocates lobbied against the killing, saying the bear was curious and nonthreatening.

Officials on Tuesday fatally shot another bear they say was reported in the area where the encounter took place. Wildlife officials say that bear charged two agency staff members.


Read more: http://www.chron.com/news/us/article/Bear-that-approached-hiker-fatally-shot-by-state-6481265.php

[Coventina]

1. If an animal is inconvenient, just kill it.

Humans suck.

[LiberalElite]

7. Hey, that's what they're there for

[ailsagirl]

10. Hi again, LiberalElite

Last edited Thu Sep 3, 2015, 11:05 AM - Edit history (1)

Good response!!

I DESPISE this kind of thing-- just makes me effing FURIOUS!!!!!!!!

I loathe anthropocentrism!!!!!!!!!

an·thro·po·cen·tric
ˌanTHrəpəˈsentrik/
adjective
regarding humankind as the central or most important element of existence, especially as opposed to
God or animals.

[Recursion]

23. If a bear has lost its fear of humans, yes, unfortunately

That's why it's so crucial for campers not to leave trash out, too. Bears who associate humans with "those yummy trash-snacks" lose their fear of humans, wander onto roads, and get struck by cars. Or wander into yards, which scares people, which scares the bear, who then mauls someone.

[msongs]

2. today a nuzzle, tomorrow a fatal attack. nt

[left-of-center2012]

3. As the saying goes:

Better safe than sorry.

[mahannah]

4. Foolish. Just fucking stupid.

[geek tragedy]

5. It's a wild animal not a pet.

It is sad but they had little choice. Bears must avoid people.

[LiberalElite]

8. Someone forgot to tell the bear nt

[geek tragedy]

16. Instinct is supposed to tell them

[jaysunb]

19. Yes...and instinct tells me to stay the fuck away from

them or where they may likely be.

[passiveporcupine]

13. If the bear had wanted to hurt her

the story would have turned out differently.

Sorry, but being curious does not mean the animal is aggressive.

[geek tragedy]

15. It does mean the bear is habituated to people.

There's a reason the saying is "a fed bear is a dead bear."

Once they stop respecting people's space . . .

[The Stranger]

35. Are you kidding me? The human had intentionally invaded the bears' space.

This wasn't New fucking York City. It was a wildlife park.

[geek tragedy]

36. what matters is that it's perfectly comfortable approaching people.

bears don't know the difference between wildlife parks and someone's back yard.

[Recursion]

24. The problem is the bear now thinks of people as a safe thing to be around

And then eventually realizes we're a source of yummy trash.

And then teaches the rest of the bears that.

This is also why trash discipline is so extremely important for campers and hikers: if you love bears, you do not want them to love you back.

[Matariki]

29. "if you love bears, you do not want them to love you back"

well put.

[DavidDvorkin]

6. They did the right thing

It's sad, but a bear who has become that unafraid of humans is dangerous.

[Capt.Rocky300]

9. Very sad and unnecessary in our educated opinion........

If he was aggressive he'd have demonstrated well known bear behavior such and grunting, padding the ground, and charging. He did none of that. He just sauntered up and sniffed. What is not known to the public is if the woman was having her period. It attracts male bears as well as other wild animals. That's all according to my wife, a certified wildlife rehabber who has had many years of experience with just about every type of critter there is.

Most state officials are clueless about wild animals. Seen it many times.

[ailsagirl]

11. Excellent response, Capt.Rocky300

Thank you

[TexasMommaWithAHat]

12. But it wasn't his first encounter

It seems from the article that the bear had gotten too close to park officials on at least two previous encounters. (Multiple encounters were referenced, so that's a minimum of two.)

So, this bear has had close encounters with humans at least three times. Unfortunately, that's a disaster waiting to happen.

I'm glad it was't me making the call to kill the bear, but I understand why it was made.

[Brickbat]

30. Menstrual blood does not attract bears.

There are issues with this science, but come on.

http://scicurious.scientopia.org/2012/02/03/friday-weird-science-does-your-menstrual-blood-attract-bears/

[Capt.Rocky300]

31. Tell that to the USFS........

I have seen written warnings posted on trailhead message boards.

[Brickbat]

32. They are outdated.

[Sunlei]

37. Once a bear has lost fear to actually touch (thats a young bear)he will kill when he's very hungry

Timothy Treadwell also 'touched' bears. let them approach him. One day one was hungry, tore him up & ate him and his girlfriend. His camera was still rolling and recorded the entire event.

[passiveporcupine]

14. One of the biggest problems with humans and wildlife,

is that humans want to feed the wildlife (like deer), or they have food sources (bird feeders, trash) out that wildlife like bears are attracted to.

[niyad]

17. thank goodness those people are not in my neighborhood, where we have had a number

of bear incidents--including the rescue of a cub who had stuck its face in a pot, and couldn't get it off. nobody around here freaks out about the bears, or the deer, or the skunks, or raccoons, or even the occasional bobcat. (and, no, I don't live in the mountains)

[alphafemale]

18. "Nuzzled" seriously you think that is what happened?

Your anthomorphism of animals is what helps to kill them.

[1monster]

20. Uh... that was the title of the article and as this is late breaking news, the OP

was required to use it...

And animals "nuzzle" people all the time... cats, dogs, horses, etc. The word is meant for animals and using it to describe an animal behavior is not an "anthropomorphism" when describing an animal behavior.


nuzzle
[nuhz-uh l]
Spell Syllables
Word Origin
verb (used without object), nuzzled, nuzzling.
1.
to burrow or root with the nose, snout, etc., as an animal does:
a rabbit nuzzling into the snow.
2.
to thrust the nose, muzzle, etc.:
The dog nuzzled up to his master.
3.
to lie very close to someone or something; cuddle or snuggle up.
verb (used with object), nuzzled, nuzzling.
4.
to root up with the nose, snout, etc.:
training pigs to nuzzle truffles from the ground.
5.
to touch or rub with the nose, snout, muzzle, etc.
6.
to thrust the nose, muzzle, snout, etc., against or into:
The horse was nuzzling my pocket for sugar.
7.
to thrust (the nose or head), as into something.
8.
to lie very close to; cuddle or snuggle up to.
noun
9.
an affectionate embrace or cuddle.

[glinda]

21. Why don't they get out of the bear's home? So sick of this......

[DavidDvorkin]

22. That means that all humans have to leave everywhere on Earth.

[glinda]

26. On our way anyways.

[DavidDvorkin]

27. Scarcely

And if it does happen, the bears and other large mammals will go, too.

[glinda]

28. yup

[svpadgham]

25. Ironically

You're more likely to get killed by a human. Should we kill the ones that nuzzle up to someone?

[BillH2]

33. The wildlife guys are edgy.

Two of them got charged by a bear earlier in the week, so they say. That might have made them a little trigger happy. I think it might have that effect on me.

[The Stranger]

34. Maybe the solution is to keep the people out of the bears' space.

Shut down the park to people. Because they seem to keep killing the wildlife that is supposed to be preserved.

[roamer65]

38. Just trap the bear and take it to far northern Canada, FFS.

There are places where human contact would be minimal to non-existant. At least it would be giving it a chance before just killing it.