wagn Posted August 18, 2008 Posted August 18, 2008 http://news.sky.com/skynews/Home/World-News/Florida-Wildlife-Officer-Dives-Into-Sea-To-Save-Tranquilised-Black-Bear-From-Drowning/Article/200807115018501?lpos=World%2BNews_7&lid=ARTICLE_15018501_Florida%2BWildlife%2BOfficer%2BDives%2BInto%2BSea%2BTo%2BSave%2BTranquilised%2BBlack%2BBear%2BFrom%2BDrowning crazy stuff Quote
Olebiker Posted August 18, 2008 Posted August 18, 2008 He's from North Florida. That's just the kind of stuff good ol' Crackers do down here. Quote
Super User Sam Posted August 18, 2008 Super User Posted August 18, 2008 That's one heck of a guy. Why is the article in the UK and not the USA? Quote
wagn Posted August 18, 2008 Author Posted August 18, 2008 That's one heck of a guy. Why is the article in the UK and not the USA? No idea, i'm sure it's on some USA sites as well. A friend at work forwarded to me from that link and figured i'd share it here as well Quote
wisturkeyhunter Posted August 18, 2008 Posted August 18, 2008 Good change that a bear that was causing trouble will do so again. Should have let it drowned. Quote
Super User Hookemdown. Posted August 18, 2008 Super User Posted August 18, 2008 Good change that a bear that was causing trouble will do so again. Should have let it drowned. How was this bear "causing trouble"? I would like to shake that man's hand also. He took his job description to the next level. Quote
Olebiker Posted August 18, 2008 Posted August 18, 2008 That's one heck of a guy. Why is the article in the UK and not the USA? It was all over the papers and the Internet. Quote
wisturkeyhunter Posted August 19, 2008 Posted August 19, 2008 Good change that a bear that was causing trouble will do so again. Should have let it drowned. How was this bear "causing trouble"? I would like to shake that man's hand also. He took his job description to the next level. Bear was in a neighborhood which means it was in a populated area so it didn't have the normal fear of humans a bear should have and that means trouble. That bear stands a good chance of being back in that same neighborhood. Second chances shouldn't be given to a potentially dangerous animal which a black bear most certainly is. Quote
Super User Hookemdown. Posted August 19, 2008 Super User Posted August 19, 2008 First off, the bear didn't trespass on our ground, we trespassed on his ground. The most ethical thing to do was to tranquilize the bear and move him to a safe area, which was probably their original goal. Quote
wisturkeyhunter Posted August 19, 2008 Posted August 19, 2008 First off, the bear didn't trespass on our ground, we trespassed on his ground. The most ethical thing to do was to tranquilize the bear and move him to a safe area, which was probably their original goal. That bear has no more a right to live than a squirrel, deer, turkey, skeeter or even a fish. To say we trespass on his ground is the same as saying we shouldn't hunt deer because they kill people by the thousands in car accidents because they were here first or saying fish have the right to swim free without getting harrassed by us. Pretty hypocritical. Peoples safety and well being come before a friggin bear or any other animal. Quote
zbigbadaaron Posted August 19, 2008 Posted August 19, 2008 First off, the bear didn't trespass on our ground, we trespassed on his ground. The most ethical thing to do was to tranquilize the bear and move him to a safe area, which was probably their original goal. That bear has no more a right to live than a squirrel, deer, turkey, skeeter or even a fish. To say we trespass on his ground is the same as saying we shouldn't hunt deer because they kill people by the thousands in car accidents because they were here first or saying fish have the right to swim free without getting harrassed by us. Pretty hypocritical. Peoples safety and well being come before a friggin bear or any other animal. i agree Quote
Super User Hookemdown. Posted August 19, 2008 Super User Posted August 19, 2008 I believe you are missing the point. It isn't like this bear is a terrorist out to kill humans. It's a bear. The DNR was in the process of relocating the bear, and it unfortunately ran into water before it was completely sedated. The officer carried out his mission heroically by saving the bear and continued to relocate it. Quote
wisturkeyhunter Posted August 19, 2008 Posted August 19, 2008 I believe you are missing the point. It isn't like this bear is a terrorist out to kill humans. It's a bear. The DNR was in the process of relocating the bear, and it unfortunately ran into water before it was completely sedated. The officer carried out his mission heroically by saving the bear and continued to relocate it. Never should have came to that point a 12gauge slug or something similiar would have been the correct tool for the job. That bear was roaming around in a populated area which means it dosen't have the natural fear of humans a bear should have. Thats not a good thing. Quote
Daniel My Brother Posted August 19, 2008 Posted August 19, 2008 When an alligator becomes a nuissance in Florida that animal is destroyed for the the safety of humans. I'm wondering why that same philosophy wouldn't apply to bears? I hope that bear lives a long and healthy life away from humans, but if he should happen to harm a child, then somebody will have to answer some tough questions. btw, I would never get into the water with a bear, drugged or not, that guy is crazy. Quote
wisturkeyhunter Posted August 19, 2008 Posted August 19, 2008 When an alligator becomes a nuissance in Florida that animal is destroyed for the the safety of humans. I'm wondering why that same philosophy wouldn't apply to bears? Exactly the point I was making. Quote
Low_Budget_Hooker Posted August 19, 2008 Posted August 19, 2008 Perhaps, and I'm just stipulating here, perhaps there is more available area to release a bear where it would be far enough away to not return than an alligator. Perhaps they have a higher relocation rate, they may be more capable of adapting to new environments. Quote
Jake P Posted August 20, 2008 Posted August 20, 2008 The Bear was just being a Bear. He wondered somewhere that he shouldnt have through no fault of his own. So you say kill it? You know for a fact that bear will come right back and cause trouble? At least give it a fair chance, it only did what bears do. If it happens again then think about other options. I think they handled it perfectly and i think the man who saved the Bear was one hell of a guy. Quote
BucketmouthAngler13 Posted August 20, 2008 Posted August 20, 2008 As far as I'm concerned this bear wasn't endangering anyone. Maybe if people practiced some bear awareness and conducted themselves accordingly there would be far less bear attacks. Besides, black bear attacks are rare in the first place. I'm sure that was a fine sight for sore eyes. That was a mighty brave thing to do. Maybe one day the bear will be able to return the favor Quote
Daniel My Brother Posted August 20, 2008 Posted August 20, 2008 Besides, black bear attacks are rare in the first place. This comment got me searching. I was surprised learn that there have been 27 fatal bear attacks this decade in North America, compared to just 13 fatal alligator attacks. Of those 27 deaths, black bears were responsible for 15. Again, I don't want to see a bear killed for no reason, but if that bear associates humans with food, then I wouldn't take the chance and release him. He may look more cuddly than a gator, but he's just as deadly. That's one brave ranger, but he just risked his life to save an animal that wouldn't think twice about ending his. Here are the grizzly details if you're interested: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_fatal_bear_attacks_in_North_America_by_decade http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_fatal_alligator_attacks_in_the_United_States_by_decade Quote
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