This summer, there seems to be an increase in the number of bear sightings and bear attacks here in the Anchorage area. I'm not sure if there is an actual increase or if it's just a perception due to the increased publicity via news stories and articles. Either way, I find it quite sad that the solution is to kill problem bears. I understand that we live in the most populous city in the state, but we do still live in Alaska. There is a reason why our city's theme is "Big. Wild. Alaska." I'm sure that you have more of a chance of running into some sort of large wildlife within our city limits than in most other cities in the U.S. It is something that you have to consider when living or moving up here.
We have moose, which aren't large, tame horses. They are wild animals that can stomp you into a bloody pulp if they feel threatened. We have wolves which aren't glorified dogs. The first time I saw a wolf up-close, in-person was at the Alaska State Zoo. They have a pack of 6 siblings there and when they all walked up to the fence together, it was quite frightening. In fact, I got to see our entire tour group of 20 people take a step back they were so intimidating...and that was through a fence. Then there are the bears. I have never had the opportunity to run into a bear in the wild, and I thank my lucky stars for that. I watch way too much Discovery and National Geographic stuff to not know how powerful, fast, and intelligent these creatures are. The only reason we think we are above them on the food chain is because we can carry weapons. But without a weapon, we are basically an easy target.
I think it is mankind's hubris to think we are untouchable. Our ego is just astounding. We think, "I'm in a city, nothing is going to happen," and then we go out walking in a location where several other people have already been attacked and are surprised?!?! Come on people! Let's use our brains. And now the bear is going to get punished. She's a sow with cubs and they are going to find and kill her. Perhaps it is survival of the fittest, but I feel it is a bit tainted. If we moved the bear and her cubs far way from the city and they weren't able to establish a territory and was then killed by other wildlife, that seems like Darwinism at work. Or if she attacked someone who was carrying a firearm and was killed by that individual. But to just hunt her down because she's been a 'problem'...that just seems wrong to me.
However, that's just my opinion and you don't have to take my word for it.
3 comments:
"You don't have to take my word for it" Its a reading rainbow, Steffie!
I agree that we shouldn't be hunting down the bear, and I don't think we should be relocating them either. They have a family, they have found that living in the park is the most suitable. We made it park so that we would have a place in town to go to be around nature. Still, when nature threatens our happy little day we have to go in and kill it. Its just not right. I can understand when problem bears are roaming the city, especially larger cities in the lower 48, feeding off trash, and are just causing trouble, it may be necessary to euthanize a bear. However, we choose to live in Alaska (some of us less than others) and in this city we are in their natural habitat. Especially in this case where the bear is in a heavily wooded area, far from any actual urban area. She is calling this her home. Just because we have a foot path through it does not mean we belong there. Just as we would shoot her if she was to come running through downtown growling at our children, she's going to attack us as we come running through her yard.
The mayor is doing his best however. This is a fish and game order to kill the bear. The mayor shut down the trail, and is asking for money for a public information campaign to take care in that particular park, always go with a group of 3 or more, always wear bells and make a lot of noise, and always carry bear spray. These are things that this summer's victims were not doing, and now the next victims will be the sow and her cubs.
I've never understood that either...it's not the bear's fault that we decided to put a huge city in the middle of their home (figuratively speaking of course, I know the city has been there much long than that bear has been alive!) The funny thing is, it's like that everywhere. The housing development my sister-in-law lives in just had the SPCA come out and gas 175 ducks in the neighborhood because they "pooped on the golf course too much"...I'll never understand it. We continue to take away these animals homes and force them further and further away, and are surprised and take drastic measures when they invade "our" homes. It's just nonsense!
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