Grisly Situation For The Grizzly

Grizzly bears are listed as a threatened species, and unfortunately are still being threatened by those around them. Whether or not killing the bear was intentional is not being debated, only the measures being used to protect them and people around them.

According to the Bear Den online, "It is estimated that in the early 1800's there were approximately 100,000 brown bears (AKA grizzly bears). Today there are between 40,000 and 50,000. They have been virtually eliminated from the lower forty-eight states of the U.S. with less than 1,000 bears occupying less than 1% of their original range". It is currently illegal to kill or injure grizzly/brown bears in the lower forty-eight states, as they are a protected species.

Unfortunately this is not enough to ensure their safety. Unacceptable numbers of these bears are being killed in a supposed act of self-defense, mostly by hunters. According to an ENN news brief, "There have been more grizzly bear mortalities this year in the greater Yellowstone Ecosystem than any other year since the bears were listed under the Endangered Species Act in 1975".

While we can not dispel the self-defense pleas in all these situations, there are other factors to take into consideration. Firstly, many of these killings take place during open black bear hunting season, and as of yet no mandatory courses regarding bear familiarity are required. It has been suggested that a hunter's lack of knowledge and understanding of different bear species may seriously endanger themselves and the bears. Perhaps if some training or workshops in the areas of bear confrontation and lifestyles became mandatory, there would be less fatal outcomes.

A good example of alternative options would be the use of pepper spray, which has proven to be a fairly effective deterrent when confronted by a grizzly. Unfortunately there are still many people who will not use or carry this substance. It is completely understandable that some people will have difficultly in trusting a spray against an eight foot angered bear, although it's use can help save the bears lives as well as your own. A bullet is not necessarily more effective, especially if it only injures and angers the bear more.

There is no proven reason to believe that every encounter must result in the death of either the human or the beast. If people were more willing to consider the effectiveness of non-lethal deterrents, lives could be saved. Pepper spray should no more be the only option any more than a bullet resulting in death. Workshops that promote bear habit awareness and interactive scenarios for what could happen will aide in increased recreational safety. With the dwindling grizzly population as it is, it seems reasonable to consider the importance of their lives as well. After all, if humans were not encroaching in their space we would not have as many confrontations.

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