Editor:
Re “Bears don’t just eat ‘anything’” by Sandra Lynch-Bakken:
Ms. Lynch-Bakken says that she has studied bears for 30 years and read all the biological literature written about them. Has she missed the book, Bear Attack by Gary Shelton?
Shelton was a Bear Conservationist at Bella Coola. He has written three books about bears, and has conducted Bear Encounter Survival Training workshops. Shelton documents several incidents in which tree planters have been attacked because when they are bent over they appear to be suitable size prey for bears.
Mr. and Mrs. Dunbar’s son Ian (from Green Lake) was attacked by a black bear as he played in his back yard. His mother succeeded in fighting the bear off but it pursued her into the house.
She again fought it off but it then went back into the yard and killed Ian.
Some years ago Sven Satre, a Chilcotin rancher was on horseback, fell off, probably because the horse was spooked by a bear. The bear then killed and ate part of Mr. Satre and covered the remains.
I know of two instances this fall in our area in which men were pursued by a bear. In both instances the men were able to get to their houses safely. We can assume that his intentions weren’t friendly.
Our neighbour had two pigs. One was killed by a black bear this spring and the other so badly wounded that it had to be put down.
Last year a man on Fox Mountain was attacked by a black bear and fortunately he had his hunting knife and was able to defend himself.
Some years ago we had a calf that was attacked by a bear. Punctures went under the back bone and came out the other side.
Vegetation makes up the bulk of their diet, however, they will eat meat when they can get it and some of them will actively pursue animals, including humans.
Margie Kaufman
Soda Creek, B.C.