<p>Maybe not such a great idea. </p>
<p>[Fatal</a> bear attack in Yellowstone is the second this summer - latimes.com](<a href=“Archive blogs”>Fatal bear attack in Yellowstone is the second this summer)</p>
<p>Grizzlies were never “returned” to Yellowstone as they never left. Habitat has been protected, and park policies altered to encourage population growth. Wolves have had a re-introduction program for several years, with mixed success.</p>
<p>As for the death, it is very sad, however Yellowstone is a wilderness, truly wild. Every hiker or visitor needs to remember there is inherent danger in a natural setting home to grizzlies, black bears, cougars, and rattlesnakes.</p>
<p>With the high number (17) of deaths in Yosemite this past year it seems visitors do not really understand the risks explained in detail in National Park brochures, and that the individual is ultimately responsible for his or her own safety. </p>
<p>A walk in grizzly country is always a calculated risk.</p>
<p>Lots of deaths all over due to ‘nature’ - </p>
<p>[Yosemite</a> Deaths A Reminder Of Rivers’ Risks | FoxNews.com](<a href=“http://www.foxnews.com/us/2011/07/21/yosemite-deaths-reminder-rivers-risks/]Yosemite”>Yosemite deaths a reminder of rivers' risks | Fox News)</p>
<p>Still, the idea of being attacked and consumed by a bear is pretty frightening since it can happen even if one follows all the safety rules. Most of the deaths, drownings, falls, etc. are due to people exceeding their limits or not taking precautions but there’s only so much you can do if a bear decides to attack because of happening to be in the wrong place at the wrong time.</p>
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<p>Correct. Except for in zoos and a few individual bears that wander across from Canada in isolated spots in places like Montana, the Yellowstone grizzles are the last grizzlies left in the lower 48. They were not re-introduced. They are the last holdouts of the original population.</p>
<p>I find it shameful and incredibly sad that the very symbol of the State of California, the California Golden Bear (a sub-species of grizzly bear), now exists only on the state flag. The actual bears have been extinct for over a hundred years</p>
<p>I prefer to take my chances at the zoo. I am so not an outdoorsy person.</p>
<p>^^The scarcity of grizzlies does not mean that you won’t encounter a bear anywhere except in a zoo. There are plenty of North American Black Bears left in many parts of the country.</p>
<p>The black bears are much tamer and more wary of humans than their larger cousins. They’re pretty common in certain parts of the country, but rarely cause any problem that people need to worry about. (Besides getting into the habit of eating out of garbage cans!)</p>
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<p>Exactly.</p>
<p>Yes, they were low in numbers but not yet gone–and now that population has more than tripled. And could grow much more as they seem to have reached a critical mass. Not sure this is very wise/desirable in a highly popular national park. NPs tend to have much more usage by non expert tourist types and having over 500 grizzly bears in a NP is not a good idea IMHO. A lawsuit was recently filed for an incident in a Washington NP where a goat killed a man. </p>
<p>[$10M</a> suit filed in Olympics goat goring death | kgw.com Portland](<a href=“http://www.kgw.com/news/local/Feds-sued-for-10M-from-Olympics-goat-goring-death-127232123.html]$10M”>http://www.kgw.com/news/local/Feds-sued-for-10M-from-Olympics-goat-goring-death-127232123.html)</p>
<p>Food source is limited, so the population will balance itself out. What kind of human intervention are you going to propose? Shoot down the grizzlies? It’s best to leave nature alone to run its own course.</p>
<p>I would hate to see tourism taking precedence over Yellowstone’s true value as one of the last pieces of wildness we have left.</p>
<p>What Calico said.</p>
<p>This particular trail is known for the abundance of wildlife and yes, Grizzlies. This hiker was taking a big chance by hiking and camping solo. It’s not wise any place in the park, but especially not here.</p>
<p>[NRDC:</a> Mary Mountain Trail](<a href=“http://www.nrdc.org/land/parks/globalwarming/maps/ystone_mary.html]NRDC:”>http://www.nrdc.org/land/parks/globalwarming/maps/ystone_mary.html)</p>
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<p>I do feel badly for the guy’s family, however. I have avid hikers in my family, but fortunately they don’t hike alone, ever. I also don’t think I’d camp on this trail, given the bear population. Just like people, there are some bears who are abnormally aggressive, and all Grizzlies are very territorial.</p>
<p>We shouldn’t tame the beautiful Yellowstone NP because it is dangerous. After all, you’ll never make it safe enough to avoid deaths. Approximately 17 people died in national parks this year - and almost every one who died was ignoring prominently displayed safety warnings, or climbing over guard rails. </p>
<p>I remember when we visited Yellowstone that I saw not one or two, but many tourists climbing down off the wooden walking trails through the mud pots to get a closer look - despite the guard rails, the written warnings everywhere, that we were on top of a thin crust, barely keeping us out of boiling, acid water. What are these people thinking?</p>
<p>Sometimes I think most of us live in a world too tightly packaged in saran wrap to fully appreciate the reality of nature.</p>
<p>good grief! The Grizzlies have LIVED in Yellowstone for thousands of years, LONG before tourists arrived ! There is no way to make it 100% safe, nor should we try. It’s a wilderness area for crying out loud!</p>
<p>At times it can be tricky for the NPS. They are charged with protecting the parks and wildlife as well as providing the opportunity for the public to enjoy them. </p>
<p>"The Organic Act charges the NPS with a dual mandate to promote and regulate the use of the national parks “by such means and measures as conform to the fundamental purpose to conserve the scenery and the natural and historic objects and the wild life therein and to provide for the enjoyment for the same in such manner and by such means as will leave them unimpaired for the enjoyment of future generations.”</p>
<p>I think that the grizzlies in Yellowstone are fine.</p>
<p>I do not, however, think people should be prosecuted for shooting grizzly bears on their own property. like this: [Prosecution</a> for fatal grizzly shooting sparks debate | Reuters](<a href=“http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/08/30/us-grizzly-idaho-idUSTRE77T07Y20110830]Prosecution”>http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/08/30/us-grizzly-idaho-idUSTRE77T07Y20110830)</p>
<p>I have family and friends who live out in the mountain west. They have a little trouble with the fact that most of the people who have a strong opinion about people and wildlife co-existing live in places where the wildlife was already killed off long ago.</p>
<p>We co-exist here with a lot of wildlife, but if a wolf came onto my property when my children were in the backyard? I would look like the grizzly. Just sayin’.</p>
<p>When i lved in montana, we went to go to the nearest walmart (80 miles away) and we came around the turn in the road and a grizzly ran right out in frount of us (we didn’t hit it of course, as it bolted across the road).</p>
<p>Likewise, where i lived there were hardly any wolves, now they are a huge problem due to returning them to the area. Now it is legal to hunt them there too.</p>
<p>So, looking at articles about the grizzly shooting, came across this headline:</p>
<p>“Otter supports grizzly shooter”</p>
<p>and I’m thinking, darn straight … and I bet the beaver and the trout they interview will agree. Sooooo disappointed to realize that the “Otter” of the article was just a human.</p>
<p>Hah hah that’s pretty funny Illyria…</p>
<p>The guy shot the grizzly because he ‘thought’ his kids were playing in the garden. I think he creates a danger by shooting when he doesn’t exactly KNOW where they are.</p>
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<p>True, they are not grizzlies but they are not Yogi and Boo Boo either. They are still bears - bears that can weigh over 600 lbs. You surprise a black bear while you are out hiking and you could be very sorry for it. About 50 people have been killed in black bear attacks in the US in the past century. </p>
<p>[Sierra</a> Bear Attack Sparks Warning - Sacramento News Story - KCRA Sacramento](<a href=“http://www.kcra.com/r/28421663/detail.html]Sierra”>Sacramento, Stockton and Modesto CA News and Weather - KCRA Channel 3)
[Bear</a> Attacks Hunter In Sierra County | NBC Bay Area](<a href=“Bear Attacks Hunter In Sierra County – NBC Bay Area”>Bear Attacks Hunter In Sierra County – NBC Bay Area)</p>
<p>We have a cabin up the in Maine mountains. We have a lot of beech trees on the property, and apparently black bears really like beechnuts. We know there are a lot of bears around, because our neighbor is a Maine Guide who hunts them. But we have been going up there since 1991 and never seen a single bear! Moose and deer, but no bears. We do make sure our collie is always with us on hikes, and our daughter never goes outside by herself. When we go for a run, we take an air horn with us, too.</p>