Huckleberries Online

Hedberg: 1 Plump Human = 2 Skinny 1s

Posted by DFO

Aug. 30, 2010 1:27 p.m. • 11 comments

Scientists report that a favorite food of many bears, nuts from whitebark pine cones, is scarce. So as grizzlies look to put on some major pounds in preparation for the long winter ahead, they will be looking for another source of protein - meat - and running into trouble along the way. Wildlife managers already report bears coming down off the mountains and into areas frequented by hunters, berry pickers and hikers. “Pack your bear spray,” said grizzly researcher Chuck Schwartz with the U.S. Geological Survey. “There’s going to be run-ins.” The reason to lose weight? If bears are looking to make a meal of a human it stands to reason the fatter you are, the more bear cubs you would be able to feed. Any intelligent grizzly would know that one plump human is worth at least two skinny ones/Kathy Hedberg, Lewiston Tribune. More here.

Question: Have you ever carried bear spray while camping, hunting, or hiking in bear country? Or do you prefer a handgun?

11 comments on this post so far. Add yours!

JohnA on August 30 at 1:50 p.m.
You can keep that bear spray, thank you very much. If I ever had to get that close to the thing, I think I’d be spraying something else entirely.

No, I’ll just keep packin’ the 9MM, and be thankful if I never have to use on any creature, great or small.
nic on August 30 at 1:54 p.m.
and a crazier mugshot.
JohnA on August 30 at 1:54 p.m.
I was reminded of this joke as I read the article:

A wilderness guide is giving his charges some essential information about hiking in the woods.

“When hiking, let the bears know you are coming by wearing little bells on your clothing. Also, carry some pepper spray just in case.

“It is also helpful to learn to recognize bear droppings or scat.
Black bear scat is tubular and often contains the remains of seeds, grass, and other plant matter.

Grizzly bear scat contains little bells and smells like pepper spray.”

:)
toadman on August 30 at 2:11 p.m.
I prefer to carry Republicans…you know, to feed to the bears. ;-)
Charlie on August 30 at 2:28 p.m.
I had at one time a book titled “Alaskan Bear Tales.” The author over many years of research retold many actual encounters with bears in Alaska, many were tragic but many were funny. All encounters don’t end in death of one of participants. I think the book is still available, probably on Amazon. If you get this book, don’t start reading before bed time, the first story was a doozy.
Soaf on August 30 at 2:39 p.m.
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again…….

If they’re close enough for pepper spray they’re already too damn close. And given the choice between bear spray and bullets,,,,,, I’ll take the lead.
hhuseland on August 30 at 3:13 p.m.
I’m thinking with my waistline, huckleberry picking is out of the question this year. But I still wouldn’t wish a bear attack on anyone. Even a liberal democrat.
Kage_Mann on August 30 at 3:26 p.m.
“huckleberry picking is out of the question this year”.

Ya’ got that right, there wasn’t very many huckleberries this year, especially on Fernan Saddle. It was one of the worst years for huckleberries I have ever seen. We need a good snow
pack, to get a good crop of those delicious berries. Last year, I
picked 23 gallons of huckleberries and made a few bucks on the side. I pack a pistol for protection, because it makes me feel safer than carrying anything else.
Mr_Bloggy on August 30 at 6:18 p.m.
Pepper spray gives, by far, the best outcomes against bears. Study after study shows it. Handgun or rifle outcomes are worse. Pepper spray usually turns em away 90% of the time, guns 50 to 67% of the time and you’ve got to be a steady shot and fire off 4 or more hits in a row with a big gun (forget small handguns unless you’re extremely lucky and get a spinal shot) at a charging target. Pepper spray doesn’t require the same accuracy.

Best option is probably both. Use the spray first and if it doesn’t work and that grizzly is on top of you then shoot yourself in the head with your handgun and avoid all that suffering about to come.

http://news.byu.edu/archive08-mar-bearspray.aspx
fortboise on August 30 at 7:41 p.m.
23 gallons, that earns you some serious credibility.

I’m reminded of an acquaintance who’s lived in Moscow for ever and who’s picked an unimaginable number of huckleberries in her life, typically double-digit gallons per year. She said she just holds still and lets the bears have all they want, moves off to a different patch if they’re not comfortable with her being there.
Don_Sausser on August 30 at 9:32 p.m.
I read somewhere that hornet spray that shoots about 30 is best. I wouldn’t want the bear closer than that to get peppered.

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D.F. Oliveria is a columnist and blogger for The Spokesman-Review. Huckleberries Online was judged the best 2008 Idaho newspaper blog by the Idaho Press Club. And the best 2007 news blog in the Pacific Northwest by the Society for Professional Journalist. Print Huckleberries is a past winner of the Herb Caen Memorial Column contest by the National Association of Newspaper Columnists. The Readership Institute of Northwestern University cited this blog as a good example of online community journalism.