My cousins daughter was attacked by a bear while in her treestand bow hunting for deer on her family farm.

http://the-leader.net/bear-attacks-bow-hunter-near-clam-falls-p10098-61.htm

She will recover physically, but an attack like that will leave scars on her psyche as well as on her leg.

In reading through the comments on the article, one rang true...there seems to be a lot of bear attack stories lately with 'experts' telling us how rare bear attacks are.

There are a small number of things I personally feel that are contributing to the increase in Human / Wildlife interactions. As 83% of all statistics are made up (including that one), I will stick to personal observations.

1) More folks are new to getting out in the woods. As such, they are less experienced in staying safe. Example: Don't try to pet the baby bear, mom will not like it.

2) We as a species are eliminating habitat at an alarming rate. Move into the bear area, expect to meet the neighbors.

3) There is less hunting, so the game multiplies, offering more chances for human interaction.

There are more, and these do not apply in all situations, but it is what I have noticed.

Cougar and wolf issues along with Grizzly bear due to changes
in management practices. Animals are being re-introduced or
newly protected from depredation pressures in areas where
humans have been for generations, and worked hard to keep the
area safe.

http://professionalsafereview.com/republic_gun_safes/2488-wolf-attacks-wrong-idaho-grandma/


http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2011/oct/24/nw-today-elk-hunter-injured-grizzly-attack/

http://www.statesmanexaminer.com/content/cougar-wolf-issues-raise-concern

Are there more encounters, or are we simply getting better news coverage of those incidents that happen?

In this part of the country, there are new animals,
Grizzly and Wolf that haven't been here for a hundred years.

Mountain lion have had hunting pressures reduced by the outlawing
of dogs for hunting. Boot hunters don't pressure the bold
cougar like dogs. They are starting to allow dogs for hunting again in some areas because of the increase in problems.

Black bear hunting with dogs was also outlawed, there may be
some effects from that too.

Having lived in areas that have been populated by mountain lions continuously, I would not worry. They are an insignificant part of the hazard profile faced by outdoor users. One of my favorite stomping grounds (in southern Arizona) was infested by lions; the rancher there had a hard time raising colts to adulthood. I would find lion tracks covering mine on the descent from climbs. Sightings were infrequesnt; attacks on humans - zero.

I'm glad she survived. I hope she'll get whatever help she needs.

I couldn't get to the complete article; the site wanted me to log in.

Do they have a guess as to why the bear went after someone in a tree stand? That sounds kind of odd.

Is hand gun carry permitted when bow hunting? Might be nice to have a little backup.

HJ

Here's a different link

http://www.twincities.com/ci_19211117?source=most_viewed

Hard to see anything they could or should have done differently. Even if they'd been armed with handguns, shooting the sow could have made things much worse.

Thanks for the new article link. Weird. I've never heard of a bear acting like that. I guess she thought her cub was in danger.

HJ

That was what I was wondering. We don't have any dedicated archery seasons here (our deer season is from Aug 15 to Jan 1, any weapons), so I've never really paid much attention to primitive weapons seasons elsewhere.

Depends on the local laws. Here, concealed carry permit holders can carry while hunting on state refuges, public lands, & management areas

The Panhandle of Floriduh is getting dangerous.

The fishcops put you UNDER the jail if you shoot a bear. Problem is, the bear population has exploded. Bears are in peoples' yards every day.

And they have lost their fear of humans.

They dig in garbage <-- You can FORGET trying to make a garbage can "bear proof".

My bud up there cannot put garbage out at night. The bears (plural) are there every night.

It is really an untenable situation. Someone is going to die horribly.

Despite denials or 'just passing through' comments by DNR's in both MN and WI, there are cougars in the northwoods. I have personally seen two, and others have seen them also. I'm wondering if when the cub panicked at the decoy and treed, the sow looked around and saw what she thought was a cougar in a nearby tree.

i wonder about the passing thru myself..passing from where to where? a den to a stashed moose kill?