bear - oh my

[chickwhorips]

hey now bears aren't that bad! i live around them every day. they just make you realize that your not on the top of the food chain. around here they just don't care much for you except for the really old and big ones. we have one we call the landlord... who knows how old he is but he's probably close to 13ft. BIG BOY. he won't move for the truck. hope i don't run into him on the bike.

[Nanci]

Mountain biker mauled by black bear near Banff
AUTHOR: Sherri Zickefoose and Craig Douce


Calgary Herald
May 14, 2006
http://www.canada.com/nationalpost/n...5fac0d&k=78602

Cries for help saved the life of a mauled mountain biker as he was dragged into the trees and guarded as prey by a black bear in Banff.

The 41-year-old was cycling alone on a densely wooded trail east of Tunnel Mountain Road on the outskirts of town Friday evening when the unusual, prolonged attack occurred.

"This potentially was a predatory attack," said Ian Syme, Banff National Park's chief park warden.

"There are indications there was a struggle for some time," he said, adding the incident is abnormal because, after most surprise confrontations, bears are known to leave the area.

"He's very lucky he was found when he was."

The bear slashed and bit the man, and dragged him 50 to 70 metres off the trail into the trees.

The unidentified Banff man underwent surgery in Foothills hospital overnight and is listed in stable condition.

Mountain bikers Robert Earl and Robin Borstmayer are credited with interrupting the bear's attack and saving the victim's life. They came across the man's bicycle -- and a broken blue helmet -- lying across the popular bike path shortly after 8 p.m.

It was a bike Earl instantly recognized because it belonged to a town office colleague who occasionally rides with them.

But the bleeding man was nowhere to be seen, until he cried out.

"It was a cry for help from the woods: 'Help, help me,' " said Earl, who is Banff's town manager.

The man yelled out a warning that the bear was still nearby.

Borstmayer peddled to a nearby campground to get help and Earl stayed behind to protect his injured friend, who was in shock.

"The bear would disappear over a rise perhaps 50 yards away. We would lose sight for five minutes or so, and then the bear would reappear," he said.

A warden shot and killed the unhealthy-looking, underweight bear after it refused to leave the scene despite the growing number of emergency services staff and wardens arriving.

The young male bear is believed to weigh only around 150 pounds, he said.

"We're very confident this was the bear involved. He was not in very good shape. He probably was food stressed," said Syme.

A necropsy was performed on the bear Saturday to help wardens learn about its health and if it was diseased.

"I don't think there's any question if we hadn't shown up it would be a different story," said Borstmayer, who added the bear encounter is his first.

"I'm glad that I was on that trail last night. And I'm glad I could help a friend in need," said Earl. "He's a valued town employee and certainly my thoughts and prayers are with him and his family."

The man suffered chest and arm injuries and was rushed to Banff Mineral Springs Hospital and flown by STARS to Calgary's Foothills hospital.

Last June, Isabelle Dube, 36, of Canmore was killed by a grizzly bear. Dube, a Quebec native, had been cross-country running in the area with two other women at the time of the attack.

Earlier this month, conservation officers closed a number of backcountry areas and trails in that same area due to roaming grizzly bears.

Wardens estimate there are eight to 10 grizzlies near the Banff townsite. Five to seven black bears are also in the area. With deep snow in the backcountry, bears are lured to the valley bottoms in search of food.

Wardens are reminding people to travel in groups, make noise, and watch the trail ahead, especially in areas of low visibility. They also warn people to be extra cautious during early morning and at dusk.

[DrBee]

Yeeeesh that's scary. That guy was really lucky. Sounds like an atypical encounter with a not-so-well bear.