Bear attacks mountain biker

[UniTyler]

John Childs mentioned this in his other bear attack thread, but I think it deserves its own.

This is all quite local for us Seattle area riders.



A mountain biker was attacked by a black bear Sunday while riding through a Kitsap County park with his two dogs.

The 51-year-old man came upon the bear at about noon during a ride through the trails at Banner Forest Heritage Park in Olalla, said Ron Powers, battalion chief for South Kitsap Fire and Rescue. The man's dogs were in front of him on the trail when he heard them barking. He came around a blind corner and was face to face with the bear, Powers said.

The bear immediately charged the man, who picked up his bike and attempted to protect himself with it.

Reaching through the bike, the bear tore at the man's arm, face, back, neck and ear, Powers said.

"And then, for some reason, the bear stops," Powers said. The man was able to get on his bike and ride out of the forest, where he found two people who called 911.

Paramedics treated the man and took him to St. Joseph Medical Center in Tacoma. His condition was not released, but Powers said he was in "pretty bad shape."

One of the dogs, skittish after the attack, bit a bystander, Powers said. The other dog was not found.

The Kitsap County Sheriff's Office blocked off the two entrances to the park and attempted to evacuate it.

A state Department of Fish and Wildlife officer was gathering a team of dogs, with the intent of finding the bear and euthanizing it.

Another mountain biker who was leaving the park had reported seeing a black bear with two cubs earlier in the day.

"It's quite likely it's the same bear," Powers said. "The reason it was so aggressive was because of the two cubs."

Banner Forest Heritage Park, a woodsy, 635-acre park outside the town of Olalla, is known for its extensive trail system and is a popular place for horseback riding, hiking and mountain biking.

[UniTyler]

I noticed at the end of this (http://www.kirotv.com/news/14032967/detail.html) news article that

"If the bear is found, it will be euthanized."

What are your thoughts on this? Is it warranted? Isn't this attack just natural behavior for mother bears? Why should one be euthanized when I assume the majority of bears would react similarly to the situation?

[BillyTheMountain]

I noticed at the end of this (http://www.kirotv.com/news/14032967/detail.html) news article that

"If the bear is found, it will be euthanized."

What are your thoughts on this? Is it warranted? Isn't this attack just natural behavior for mother bears? Why should one be euthanized when I assume the majority of bears would react similarly to the situation?

It's to teach all bears to fear humans.

If we let this one get away with it, they'll all think they can get away with it.

Though maybe life in prison will serve the same effect.

What do you think?

[kerosian]

pssh, he'll probably get out on good behavior. "He never talked back or nothin'"

[JJuggle]

Are people who seek their recreation in the habitats of wild and potentially dangerous animals less deserving of Darwin Awards than sales people reading their manuals while driving 80 mph or people who change light bulbs on their balconies with precariously positioned stepladders? I'd bet nearly as many of the latter two never come to a bad end as do those who recreate in the wild.

[UniBrier]

The rider says he is certain the bear was a male (http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2003867281_bearattack04m.html). The 51-year-old man, whose name has not been released at his family's request, had a brief conversation with a U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service official Monday afternoon, and was adamant that it was a male bear that mauled him, not a mother bear with two cubs that had also been seen in the area Sunday.

"He said, 'It was on top of me and I'm positive it was a male bear,' " said Fish and Wildlife spokesman Sgt. Ted Jackson, who visited the man at the hospital for about 15 minutes. Fish and Wildlife officers were still hunting the bear with a team of dogs Monday, with plans to kill it.
I don't know if I'd have that much attention to detail if I were in his shoes.

[thejdw]

Whats; euthanized?

[unibuddy]

euthanised is the animal equivelant of execution. And I dont think they have any right to kill it either, its a bear-mauling things is what they do.

[UniTyler]

A new article discussing the decision of killing the bear.



The Department of Fish and Wildlife has set up traps for a bear that attacked a bicyclist on Sunday, and officials say the bear will likely be killed.

But people who live near Banner Forest Heritage Park say the animal did nothing wrong.

Anthony Blasioli, 51, was biking with his two dogs alongside him when he encountered the bear Sunday morning.

The bear charged at the man, cutting his arms, back and neck before he managed to get away. He's being treated at a Tacoma hospital and was listed in satisfactory condition.

Officials think the bear may have been defending its cubs, and that is what has area residents protesting plans to kill the animal.

"It's mean, it's cruel, it's bad," said Mike Leathers. "We're in their territory. The bear and her cubs need to be relocated."

Fish and Wildlife Sgt. Duane Makoviney said it's very rare for a bear to attack a human, and they have no choice but to euthanize it.

"It could have been worse. We could have a fatality here and we certainly don't want that to happen," he said.

Carol Maddux lives just miles from the park and she says bears are seen frequently in the area.

"They're not aggressive," she said. "They will back away from you anyone knows that."

Wildlife officials have closed the park while they try to trap the bear.
.

[Wheel Rider]

He came around a blind corner and was face to face with the bear, Powers said.

What are your thoughts on this? Is it warranted? Isn't this attack just natural behavior for mother bears? Why should one be euthanized when I assume the majority of bears would react similarly to the situation?

Sounds like self-defense to me (by the bear). I would have to disagree with killing the bear in this case. However, in situations like this the bear usually loses. How do they know they have the right bear when they catch it or shoot it?

[phil]

Are people who seek their recreation in the habitats of wild and potentially dangerous animals less deserving of Darwin Awards than sales people reading their manuals while driving 80 mph or people who change light bulbs on their balconies with precariously positioned stepladders?
There aren't many areas which do not form the habitat of wild and potentially dangerous animals; that would imply people in such areas - for example, Canada (bears, moose), Australia (damn near everything), Britain (killer hedgehogs) - should really stay locked in their homes. In fact, more people are killed in their homes and cars than by bears; maybe it would actually be safer if everyone went mountain biking around bear habitats?

Hmmm...