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In reply to the discussion: Most unusual encounters with a wild animal (any kind that isn't someones pet) [View all]Jarqui
(10,123 posts)Maybe more is known now.
One of the things we did was get on horseback and chase them out of the dump - routinely, trying to encourage them to live off the land and not off human garbage. We perceived it as an act trying to help them. I doubt we accomplished much but I was following orders.
I was at that camp for four years and mine were the closest calls we had there during that time. I never heard of anyone getting mauled in that park.
I saw a number of times where a group of people clanging metal pots would get them to run off. We were in the middle of the woods with no firearms. What else are you going to do? Can't invite them for dinner.
In the Rockies, we were pack horsing through and cooking bacon on an open fire. A grizzly charged, lumbering up the hill. The 80+ yr old lady of about 80 lbs who was cooking the bacon pulled out an old musket and dropped the bear and carried on with her cooking like nothing happened. That's the most aggression I ever saw. Poor bear was just plain hungry.
Most of the time, like many things in life, things happen for a reason.