Using a Gun in Bear Encounters Doesn't Make You Safer

ScienceDaily (Mar. 6, 2012) — Carrying a gun in bear country doesn't mean you're more protected in the event of a bear encounter, according to new research out of Brigham Young University. A study led by BYU biologist and bear expert Tom S. Smith found that firing a gun is no more effective in keeping people from injury or death during bear attacks than not using a firearm.

"It really isn't about the kind of gun you carry, it's about how you carry yourself," said Smith, who has researched bears in the field for 20 years. "We need to respect an animal that could potentially take our lives."

Smith and his colleagues analyzed 269 incidents of bear-human conflicts in Alaska for the study, appearing in the forthcoming issue of the Journal of Wildlife Management. Those incidents involved 444 people and 357 bears, 300 of which were brown bears.

The researchers found no statistical difference in the outcome (no injury, injury or fatality) when they compared those who used their gun in an aggressive encounter (229 instances) to those who had firearms but did not use them (40 instances).

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/03/120306131921.htm

Another Bear attack in Yellowstone

A bear attack caused the death of a hiker whose body was found on a trail in Yellowstone National Park, officials confirmed Monday.

The body of John Wallace, 59, was discovered Friday by two hikers along the Mary Mountain Trail, an area of the park that had been closed to hikers, according to park services.

Rangers discovered signs of grizzly bear activity, including tracks and scat, or bear droppings, in a park campground where they believe Wallace pitched a tent on Wednesday, the park said in a news release.

Autopsy results concluded that Wallace, a Michigan resident, died from traumatic injuries he received after being mauled by a bear. It's the second fatal attack in Yellowstone National Park this summer, said Park Superintendent Dan Wenk.

Just last month, a 57-year-old California man was killed by a bear within the same 10-mile area of the park, Wenk said.

Park managers determined that man was killed by a bear protecting its cubs. Despite the close proximity of the latest attack, the officials do not think the same bear is responsible for Wallace's death because no evidence of cubs was found at the scene.

DNA tests on hair samples from the site will be performed to confirm suspicions that a different bear was involved in the second attack, Wenk said.

Over the past 25 years, Yellowstone has averaged 1 or 2 encounters a year that resulted in injuries, Wenk said.

Prior to this summer's attacks, the last fatal bear mauling was in 1986, he said.
http://www.cnn.com/2011/US/08/29/wyoming.bear.attack/index.html?hpt=hp_t2

IMPORTANT URSINE NEWS: Naughty Sooty

Stage magician Paul Daniels was rushed to hospital after being hit by a pizza during a sketch with Sooty, the Sun reports.

Paul was filming scenes for an appearance on Sooty's new TV show where the mischievous glove puppet was required to throw a slice of pizza at Paul's face.

Insiders say Sooty, now being worked by Richard Cadell, needed a second go at throwing the snack after Paul decided his first take was too weak. However, Sooty's second attempt knocked Daniels over and left him needing medical attention.

"It damaged his eye. We had to go to hospital and cancelled a gig," Daniels' agent Chris Davis explained. "But he's made a full recovery and is about to go to the Edinburgh Festival for a month."

Despite the trip to A&E, sources on the show insist the scene will feature when the programme is broadcast later this year. "Paul was such a good sport and so professional. He's insisted they use the scene where he got injured not the first one," they said before adding, "Well, he did suffer for his art, so it would be a shame to waste it."

http://news.uk.msn.com/odd-news/paul-daniels-injured-by-sooty