Grizzly Death

[Hum]

ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) ? A hiker in Alaska's Denali National Park photographed a grizzly bear for at least eight minutes before the bear mauled and killed him in the first fatal attack in the park's history, officials said Saturday.

Investigators have recovered the camera and looked at the photographs, which show the bear grazing and not acting aggressively before the attack, Denali Park Superintendent Paul Anderson said.

The hiker was identified late Saturday as Richard White, 49, of San Diego. He was backpacking alone along the Toklat River on Friday afternoon when he came within 50 yards of the bear, far closer than the quarter-mile of separation required by park rules, officials said.

"They show the bear grazing in the willows, not acting aggressive in any form or manner during that period of time," Anderson said of the photos.

Officials learned of the attack after hikers stumbled upon an abandoned backpack along the river about three miles from a rest area on Friday afternoon. The hikers also spotted torn clothing and blood. They immediately hiked back and alerted staff park.

Rangers in a helicopter spotted a large male grizzly bear sitting on the hiker's remains, which they called a "food cache" in the underbrush about 100 to 150 yards from the site of the attack on Friday.

A state trooper shot and killed the male bear on Saturday.

There's no indication that the man's death was the result of anything other than a bear attack, investigators said, adding that it's the first known fatal mauling in the park's nearly century-long history.

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[CG-88]

Did the bear need to be killed? Or is a case of it got a taste for humans :s

[Hum]

Even bears don't like Paparazzi. :wacko:

[CG-88]

ha, true. guy really was risking his life...surely within those 8 minutes he got a decent picture and could have left.

[The Laughing Man]

"A state trooper shot and killed the male bear on Saturday."

Why? that moron invaded the bears natural habitat, also violating the distance rules too. Why did the bear have to be put down. Were they afraid that since now it has a taste for human blood the bear would go on a rampage?

[CG-88]

Thats what I questioned as well hence my first post in this thread. It was the photographers fault he got mauled, shouldnt have got so close hence my other comment - surely he got a picture within 8 minutes and could have left :s

But yeah maybe that is the reason the bear got put down. :( poor thing

[necroxd]

Thats what I questioned as well hence my first post in this thread. It was the photographers fault he got mauled, shouldnt have got so close hence my other comment - surely he got a picture within 8 minutes and could have left :s

But yeah maybe that is the reason the bear got put down. :( poor thing

Taste for human blood deal. Once a bear has established we are consumable it will hunt humans. That's why it needed to be put down. I'm surprised though. People don't know how very dangerous bears are. But usually the ones tag purposely hunt and stalk humans as prey are black bears. Guess dude got too close.

[psionicinversion]

Guy is pretty stupid to stand around for that long, it aint yogi bear sitting there there very powerful animals that can literally tear ya apart with ease. As the guy said above once they think we are food then they would kill us as a food source so needs to be put down

[Mackster]

"A state trooper shot and killed the male bear on Saturday."

Why? that moron invaded the bears natural habitat, also violating the distance rules too. Why did the bear have to be put down. Were they afraid that since now it has a taste for human blood the bear would go on a rampage?

For some reason, they always hunt and kill the animal in these cases. We humans have nothing better to do than be stupid, waste resources and kill animals.

[TheLegendOfMart]

For some reason, they always hunt and kill the animal in these cases. We humans have nothing better to do than be stupid, waste resources and kill animals.

Would you prefer the bear, that now knows humans are tasty, start wandering out of the forest and into build up areas hunting humans?

[Marshall Veteran]

Would you prefer the bear, that now knows humans are tasty, start wandering out of the forest and into build up areas hunting humans?

These "Build up" areas that you refer too, at one time, were the bear's natural habitat. Humans have robbed so many different species of animals of their homes to make America what it is today, one big ass shopping mall.

[TheLegendOfMart]

What's that got to do with euthanising a bear that has a taste for human blood?

[Growled Member]

Sounds like a Darwin Award candidate to me.