Nature Photographers Network
This is the preserved archive of the original Nature Photographers Network. The community continues at naturephotographers.network.

OT - Woman eaten by bears

Discussion

7 replies
Posted by Pam Colander on August 11, 2009 at 12:01 PM
Some of you probably already heard this story about a Ouray woman. After reading several articles I'm not sure if the bear(s) actually killed her or were opportunistically feeding on her following her natural death. Sad story with the usual bad end for the bears due to a foolish human.

http://www.backpacker.com/woman_who_fed_bears_found_mauled_and_eaten/blogs/daily_dirt/1225
Posted by Kathryn Engle on August 11, 2009 at 12:14 PM
Oh no. I have not heard of this but will be reading it here shortly. Just last weekend I ran into a black bear sow and cub with only my camera equipment for company. Fortunately, they took off and so did I.
Posted by Dave Showalter` on August 11, 2009 at 12:16 PM
She was on borrowed time with her ignorant views about feeding wildlife. A cage around your home? C'mon! The only time you ever hear of a black bear attack is because of stupid food handling by humans........ they really don't want to eat us.
Posted by Guy Runco on August 11, 2009 at 12:30 PM
What a shame, two bears removed because one ignorant woman wouldn't listen to reason...
Posted by Michael Renner on August 11, 2009 at 12:35 PM
Yeah, it's unfortunate that this occured - but like Dave said, it was going to happen sooner or later. The last story that I read said based on the autopsy, the woman was indeed killed by the bear. I think that there were 3 or 4 bears that have been killed as a result of this incident. Including the one that was having 'dinner', there were a couple others that were killed as they no longer feared humans were aggressive towards people. Sad all the way around.
Posted by Roger Rouch on August 11, 2009 at 1:38 PM
Unfortunate all the way around. I understand that the authorities tried, but it's too bad something couldn't have been done to prevent this before the inevitable.
Posted by Scott Fricke on August 11, 2009 at 3:12 PM
It's too bad the Colorado Department of Wildlife didn't follow through on their threat to bring legal action against her, especially after they had trapped and euthanized multiple bears on her property, it might have saved the last two bears, and her.
Posted by Michael Hackett on August 11, 2009 at 3:21 PM
that's why they tell us not to feed the wildlife. she not only endangered herself but also anyone else that the bears came in contact with since they lost their fear of people. to bad the bears paid the price for her stupidity.