Date:         Sat, 12 Feb 2011 08:49:31 -0600
Reply-To:     mcneely4@COX.NET
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Dave Mcneely <mcneely4@COX.NET>
Subject:      Re: camping amidst bears, safety question
Comments: To: Loren Busch <starwagen@GMAIL.COM>
In-Reply-To:  <AANLkTinMJBApOq0mNtPkBqeAy7uZZt1m27QcG6WSwvGV@mail.gmail.com>
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---- Loren Busch <starwagen@GMAIL.COM> wrote:
>  RE: Bear Attacks
> IIRC there have been at least two different bear attacks in or near National
> Parks that made the news in the last year.  So I have to wonder if we are
> mixing recollections and details of more than one report.  Whatever the
> details the bottom line is bears will come into your camp and they will try
> (and sometimes succeed)  to eat people.  So common sense and situational
> awareness are important when sleeping in the boondocks.

The Soda Butte Campground attack reported in both the AP and NPR stories is the one I was remembering.  I just misremembered the details, especially about the camper's proper handling of food and other items.  That was (with apologies to Scott re English usage) my bad.  I inquired of my wife, who was with me in Montana when the incident unfolded, and when we heard the NPR reports.  She told me that the stories we heard at the time in fact did report that the campers had properly handled their food and trash.

Like the local residents who clearly, by what was reported in the AP story, became spooked, my thoughts are that the adult female bear was one that had previously learned that camps were places to get food.  When she returned to this camp after the rangers had set up a trap, she went straight to the tent, according to the reports.

--
David McNeely