or a mountain lion, I would want to carry something a little larger than what I normally carry concealed.
But there are ways to avoid being attacked by wildlife.
Since the fatal Bear attack on well known Bear Photographer Timothy Treadwell and his Girl friend Amie Huguenard in Kaflia Bay in Katmai Park Alaska Grizzly Bears and Coastal Brown Bears have got allot of attention and a bad reputation regarding there disposition. 99% of all Bear attacks resulting in fatalities have human error involved and bad judgment as in there unfortunate case every bear expert in Alaska agrees that they were very careless and in a very bad location to be camping with no bear fence or Bear Spray. With 35,000-45,000 bears in Alaska and people encroaching on there private space it is a wonder we don't have more Bear attacks. But it is very simple Grizzly bears and brown bears live there life in solitude most of the time with one driving force on there mind survive by eating as much as they can before the fall hibernation.
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The moral of the story is simple do not go Jogging-Biking Hiking-Fishing or any outdoor activity by yourself in the woods in Alaska. Whether being a man or woman you should always travel in a group of 3 or more and make noise in restricted visibility areas and you will be 100% safe as there has never been a recorded bear attack on a group of 3 or more people together. Grizzly Bears and Brown Bears are not hateful, spiteful, or malicious animals searching out humans
Bears are social animals and are considered not to be territorial as they share home ranges. On the other hand bears will defend their personal space and each social setting is often dictated by a social hierarchy. It must be understood that the bear is at the top of the food chain and have very few predators and fears. As many Bear viewing guides in the state know bears often don´t even look up as they walk the well worn paths of rivers and lakes. Not always being aware of their surroundings it is important that we as humans take precautions to let it be known where we are and not to surprise or get in a bears personal space. This page was not to scare anyone just give the straight facts regarding Bear attacks in Alaska . Visiting Katmai National Park is one of the safest places to visit especially since we never go with a group smaller than 3.
Sincerely Charle Summerville III
Owner/Head Guide Alaska Adventures
http://www.alaska-bear-viewing.net/bear_attacks.htm I do remember a friend who was stationed while in the Air Force on the DEW line in Canada (Distant Early Warning Line). If he left the parameter of the radar station to go hunting or fishing, he was required to carry a weapon. He carried the minimum requirement a .357 magnum. His revolver was a beautiful nickle plated Colt Python.
A greater threat than the wildlife in national parks are two legged predators. Concealed weapons in the parks may discourage attack.
The National Park Service’s recent report revealed that 11 murders, 35 rapes, 61 robberies and 261 aggravated assaults occurred on parklands in 2006. Our parks also contain hidden methamphetamine labs, marijuana fields and illegal drug and illegal alien smuggling routes. In addition to these dangers and potential attacks from human predators, park visitors have to consider attacks from animal predators. Between April and December 2007 there were at least a dozen grizzly bear attacks reported by park visitors. Today, 31 states allow the carrying of firearms in state parks – all with safe and satisfactory results.
http://www.opposingviews.com/arguments/self-defense-doesn-t-stop-in-national-parks There is already poaching in the National Parks. The poachers probably carry weapons that can't easily be concealed such as rifles.
Increasingly organized gangs of poachers are killing wildlife, yanking up plants and stealing valuable bits and pieces of the nation's parks, threatening the biological diversity and cultural heritage they were created to protect.
Black bears have been slaughtered in Shenandoah National Park in Virginia for their gallbladders, used in traditional Asian medicines. Nearly every week rangers in Big Cypress National Preserve in Florida stumble upon headless carcasses of alligators butchered for their skulls and tail meat. Cactus rustlers are depleting prized saguaro and barrel cactus from Southwestern parks to feed demand from the domestic landscaping market and cactus collectors in Europe and Japan.
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"The commercialization of wildlife has raised the monetary value of wildlife to criminal organizations all over the world," Jones said. "The same people that kill sea turtles to sell the meat and carapace are the same people smuggling narcotics and illegal aliens."
Numbers are hard to come by, but federal authorities said they believe the vast majority of poaching goes undetected. "When you see the top of the iceberg above the waterline," Jordan said, "it's hard to know how much is below the water that we can't see."
http://sports.espn.go.com/outdoors/general/news/story?page=c_fea_parks_national_poachers_steal_Lowy