MicheleV_AKJul 26, 2023
Tongass National Forest has a great sense of humor about "bear petting." 😜 Another place to visit on my bucket list. It's 16.7 million acres and is in Southeast near Juneau. I've been to Juneau, just not to the forest and I will NEVER pet a bear!
#Alaska #TongassNationalForest #DontPetBears
Show threadΧ—Χ ΧŸ Χ›Χ”ΧŸ β€’ Hanan CohenJul 26, 2023
@MicheleV_AK
my friend works as a ranger in an Alaska national park. I sent her this image and asked if it's from her park. she said no but it's a good idea because the visitors are stupid.
Show threadMicheleV_AKJul 26, 2023
@hananc Yeh, some are very stupid and think they can "get away." Hell, people will get out of their cars on side of the road to get "close-up" photos of bears!
Show threadRich Stein (he/him)Jul 27, 2023
@MicheleV_AK @hananc
Sadly, some people do not learn (full transparency/admission: when we visited Yellowstone a few years ago, I originally β€” on the east coast, before travelling β€” did not think we would be anywhere that bear spray would be necessary. Our then 11-y.o. disagreed. To assuage him, I explored further once we got to West Yellowstone. I found out that I was wrong; everywhere outside town is bear spray country. We ran with it, hiked with it, camped with it.)
https://apnews.com/article/grizzly-bear-fatal-attack-montana-search-ddfb5c5f511831418b7cdaae843d08a2
Bear traps set for grizzly bear after fatal attack near Yellowstone National Park

Wildlife workers searching for a grizzly bear that killed a woman along a forest trail near Yellowstone National Park are setting bear traps for a third night in hopes of catching the bruin. Officials on Monday identified 48-year-old Amie Adamson, 48, of Derby, Kansas, as the victim of Saturday’s attack along the Montana-Idaho border. They say Adamson was hiking or running alone when she was fatally mauled. Rangers issued an emergency closure for areas of the Custer Gallatin National Forest. The closure did not include Yellowstone National Park. Since 2010, grizzlies in the Yellowstone region have killed at least nine people, but attacks remain rare.

AP News
Show threadRich Stein (he/him)
@MicheleV_AK @hananc
Obliquely related (or not) β€” evidence compiled and analyzed from reported human-bear encounters shows how extremely effective bear spray is AND how ineffective β€” often counterproductive β€” guns are. Most people are poor shots at close range when frightened. Something to consider when there are cries of more guns for individual protection β€” in the US, there are various legal policies (e.g., "stand your ground," "castle doctrine"). Anyway, enjoy (real) bears at a distance.
Jul 27, 2023 at 1:43pmWeb
Show threadMicheleV_AKJul 27, 2023
@RichStein @hananc We've never carried a gun or bear spray with us when out hiking. I don't really worry about bears because we use trails that are used by thousands of others. Bear encounters with humans are actually very rare and usually the fault of stupid humans. I always remember that we are encroaching on their habitat, not the other way around.
Show threadRich Stein (he/him)Jul 27, 2023
@MicheleV_AK @hananc
Agree with all of that. While out with the family it's not hard to be loud and visible on the trail. πŸ˜‚ Still, carrying a canister is a pretty small price if it affords comfort. We've never been in a situation where we needed it -- pots and pans in camp back this way have always been enough to scare away unwanted visitors (plus we'll bear bag food while in camp).
Show threadMicheleV_AKJul 28, 2023
@RichStein @hananc I understand why others do it and everyone is entitled to protect themselves if they want to. I've just never felt the need and as I said, after 23 years, no issues. I was scolded for not owning a gun when I lived in a rural part of the state in a log cabin in the woods because "a bear might break down my door and kill me." Well, that never happened and I never saw a bear in my yard. I have great respect for this land and the wildlife that lives here, which is why I stick to well-traveled trails. To each his/her own. Now, if you read some crazy old woman was killed by a bear in Alaska...
Show threadRich Stein (he/him)Jul 28, 2023

@MicheleV_AK @hananc Hope NOT to read that headline. Please keep posting photos β€” lucky for you and for us.

All best.