Attacks by large predatory animals are very rare. Wolves,Coyotes and bears are successful because different personality types allows for wide adaptation. The "unpredictable" bear is just as predictable through carefull observation as the teenager in gang attire or boyscout uniform. I had two 'encounters' with kodiaks in Alaska. The first was on the Buskin river. I blundered onto a huge male. I fired one warning round from a 1911 before overzealous oiling froze the slide. He gave me a look of contempt ( stupid Califonia Coast Guard idiots) and moved on. Later I was working off duty as Exchange janitor. I was waxing the deck and backed into a mounted bear. In the twilight I saw this huge monster rocking back and forth. I ran, or actually slid across the wet wax and slammed into the opposite wall. I stared at the "'stuffed bear", turned <img src="images/graemlins/blush.gif" alt="" /> and looked around to see if anybody walking by saw my antics. I got myself to the library and Alaska F&G the next day to learn something usefull besides barroom reminisces. The only time a large animal truly presented any danger was a bull moose challenging our C130 landing on the mainland <img src="images/graemlins/shocked.gif" alt="" />