Woman Killed by black bear on Rainy Lake island

biggill wrote:

Very unfortunate.

I’m not sure why the fascination is with blame. A wild animal killed someone.

Agreed. Stay frosty.

I must be lucky from what Tom says where I’ve grown up bears were in or around the area on the regular and I don’t think anybody’s dogs at ever been harmed. I completely get the logic but every time I’ve ever been camping in my life in Bear Country we always have dogs always been bigger breed mean or sounding dogs maybe that helps I’m not sure

I’m not sure on the dog thing either. I watch a bunch of Alaska shows, and some of the guys living in the bush up there use their sled dogs for bear safety. I guess it depends on what kind of situations you get yourself into.

Black bears are not aggressive by nature. Actually the exact opposite. That bear was starving and dogs had nothing to do with its hunger. The only way I see this tragedy being preventable was if she stepped in on her dog’s being attacked by the bear. In that case she should have let her dogs do what they do and protect her from danger. Maybe they’d have been killed or injured but she’d be safe.
There are thousands and thousands of dogs living in bear country and it’s extremely rare for a bear to do anything but run at the sight or sound of a dog. They normally avoid confrontation at all costs. This bear was of the minority for sure.
How many bear hounds are killed in Wisconsin every year? They are bred to antagonize bears and tree them. If the bears got aggressive every time the dogs get sent out they’d be out of dogs, they don’t though, the flee and go up a tree to avoid the confrontation. More dogs are killed by wolves as they are seen as a direct competition for food and territory.

I haven’t seen anything regarding those bears being starved. Maybe you were there and I’m speaking out of place. If that’s the case, pardon me.

Bears do tend to be fairly passive and maybe a solitary bear will run when if a larger dog makes a move on it. But bears are like people too…strength in numbers and the words “dogs” was used in the article so if those bears felt the least bit surrounded by dogs, they’d be wired for aggression. Hunters use packs of dogs on “usually” a solitary animal. And a good many dogs are lost to bears every year. Every fall I hear tales of chewed up and dead dogs after tangling with bear.

Alaskan sled dogs are chained and housed in close proximity to one another near the home dwelling. They are not allowed to run free and when they are run on sleds its probably pretty safe to say that most of this activity is done while bears are in hibernation, save for very early winter and very late winter. Still, they are run and chained in numbers. Plus the are larger dogs.

Cabin/tent, missing dogs on an island and a dead women. She had to go look for the dogs, so like it or not, the dogs seem to be the denominator here that cost the woman her life. The bears were in their own domain. The people….nada. I’ve seen enough misery come from dogs/bears at the cabin in 30 some years and the dogs are either dead or ripped up bad enough to have to be put down. That’s why we don’t allow dogs. Going into the wilderness with dogs in tow, if you’re not equipped to protect those dogs and yourself then they belong at home.

Hunt grouse in bear country. Bears run from dogs on every occasion we’ve bumped into them. They run like a bat out haddies. Wolves eat cubs, and bears if given the opportunity. Have seen plenty of bear hair in wolf scat. Bears will vacate bait sights if wolves are in the area. A normal bear don’t like wolves or dogs and are non confrontational unless cornered. A bear that is unhealthy or habituated to human food sources like garbage is a whole different animal. Dog or no dog, that bear is unpredictable. If given the choice between dogless or accompanied by a k9, I’d choose having a dog every time.

Freak accidents happen and feel for the family. Could point fingers till the cows came home, but 20/20 hindsight is just that, hindsight.

A little off subject but bear dog guys make me sick. My daughter is a vet tech and they seem to have little regard for there dogs and consider it a badge of honor to rack up the biggest vet bill. Bear hunting with dogs is asinine and the one thing I hate about living in the northwoods.
I pray for the lady and her family. Animal attacks happen

bigpike wrote:

Bear hunting with dogs is asinine and the one thing I hate about living in the northwoods.

Good its still a free country and you can voice your opinion . Pretty week. How about the fish you hooked and made suffer with the hook in its mouth?

And yes you were a long way off the subject.

bigpike wrote:

A little off subject but bear dog guys make me sick. My daughter is a vet tech and they seem to have little regard for there dogs and consider it a badge of honor to rack up the biggest vet bill. Bear hunting with dogs is asinine and the one thing I hate about living in the northwoods.
I pray for the lady and her family. Animal attacks happen

I beg to disagree. I’ve bear hunted with guys with dogs on several occasions, the absolute last thing they wanted was for their dogs to get tore up.

I’ve seen a grown man cry after his dog was ripped up.

Hound hunters want to see a bear treed, not bayed up on the ground swatting their dogs.

Im sure every guy who hunts with dogs is honorable and meticulously cares for there dogs needs
Not. Way 2 many horror storys from my daughter. The majority plug and play with next dog up. Go take your bear dogs and hunt elsewhere. Once again terrible accident. Wish the family the best.

bigpike wrote:

Im sure every guy who hunts with dogs is honorable and meticulously cares for there dogs needs
Not. Way 2 many horror storys from my daughter. The majority plug and play with next dog up. Go take your bear dogs and hunt elsewhere. Once again terrible accident. Wish the family the best.

You’re calling out a group of people from second hand stories from your animal loving daughter.

Bear hunters love their animals too.

Believe me, it’s not plug and play, no matter what your daughter says to you.

The large majority of bear hunters truly care for their dogs, which is completely opposite of the garbage you are spewing.

I’d love to hear how many times you’ve hunted with hounds? I have a number in my head, prove me wrong.

riverruns wrote:

<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>bigpike wrote:</div>
Bear hunting with dogs is asinine and the one thing I hate about living in the northwoods.

Good its still a free country and you can voice your opinion . Pretty week. How about the fish you hooked and made suffer with the hook in its mouth?

And yes you were a long way off the subject.

It’s ok to eat fish because fish don’t have feelings.

-Kurt Cobain

Hound hunters are a special breed and feel they get a bad rap like trappers. Probably 2 of the most dedicated and unique groups in the outdoor world.

woman killed in freak black bear accident…
the Scratcher strikes again…
dogs should not be allowed in the northwoods unless you want to die by bear…
Using dogs to hunt bear…
Kurt Cobain…

I think I got this internet thing figured out

ClownColor wrote:

woman killed in freak black bear accident…
the Scratcher strikes again…
dogs should not be allowed in the northwoods unless you want to die by bear…
Using dogs to hunt bear…
Kurt Cobain…

I think I got this internet thing figured out

Don’t forget to get your flu shot.

I’ve got a few buddies who raise and hunt with hounds. Last thing I think they’d ever want is a dog to get hurt. I think some one is feeding you stories from some d bag holly Billy red neck punks. Sorry to say. For every good sportsman there will be a bad one.

Thanks for the reminder BigGill…but it’s the shingles shots I forgot about.

biggill wrote:

<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>bob clowncolor wrote:</div>
woman killed in freak black bear accident…
the Scratcher strikes again…
dogs should not be allowed in the northwoods unless you want to die by bear…
Using dogs to hunt bear…
Kurt Cobain…

I think I got this internet thing figured out

Don’t forget to get your flu shot.

Sometimes you need to infuse a little bit of humor and levity into these threads…..they get a little to serious for my taste sometimes.

This is a terrible tragedy – I don’t want to downplay that but we gotta chill a little.

My experience trout fishing in the UP has taught me the same thing black bears dont like people. Only time ive ever been spooked is when I saw mom and cubs about 300 yards down the road and they high tailed it out when I yelled “Get out of here bear”

People saying this was avoidable have spent too much time in the comfort of the suburbs….Was a freak accident, a darn shame, and having a large breed dog in bear country is not a bad idea.

It’s always said that black bears kill more people in Alaska than brown bears. Anyone know this as a fact?

One time when I was Grouse hunting with my dog two small bears shot up a tree in front of us. My dog didnt even see them. I hauled butt out of the area and gave them a very wide berth. I almost hit a cub with an atv with mom right in front of it. I still think about how bad that could have been. I have seen bears many times while quading. I prefer seeing bears from my truck.

suzuki wrote:

I have seen bears many times while quading.

What is “quading”?

lindyrig79 wrote:

<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>suzuki wrote:</div>
I have seen bears many times while quading.

What is “quading”?

Either 4 wheeling or hunting for quads.

My only encounters with bears have been them running away mostly. For the most part, I see them when on the wheeler. That being said whenever I’m in bear country I have my pistol with. Even our cabin in brainard. The number of wolves and bears is enough to get me to carry most the time up there. Seems like they’re getting more comfortable around the cabin though. Which isn’t very thrilling. They’re neat to watch but we have dogs which have kept them from coming around more often.

biggill wrote:

It’s always said that black bears kill more people in Alaska than brown bears. Anyone know this as a fact?

I would say it’s a possibility just because black bears are more common. While grizzlies are more aggressive in nature they are few and far between when it comes to their range when compared to a black bear.

Stupid cabins, there shouldn’t be cabins anywhere there are bears. It’s the cabins fault for being there. If the cabin wasn’t there, the people wouldn’t be there, problem solved.

snowflake wrote:

<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>Matt Moen wrote:</div>
So you’re blaming the bears?

Is it the bears fault? No, it’s the womans fault…. man you are a jackass

Well that should get you or this thread dusted?

Wasn’t there a movie with Uncle Buck going on a trip with his family that had a bear in it? Remember they went to Wally World and it was closed. Then they ended up in Europe and circled the Big Ben like 6 1/2 times and got a cabin in northern Nn on Bass lake.

I think Dan Aykroyd was in this film as well.

I remember a bear.

riverruns wrote:

Uncle Buck going on a trip with his family that had a bear i

Great outdoors, family favorite. I’d post a gif of the bald headed bear but out of respect for the victim of nature I will not.

Prayers to the family

Regardless of as much public education about wild animals. Some people remain absolutely fearless in confrontations with animals.

Case in point. Group of us used to camp and fish this lake in Ohio. Every year the Memorial Day week was the go to plan. This is about the time the Canadian geese have their young. Our site at the camp was near the boat launch.

Every evening campers would come down to feed the geese and their young. Despite the rangers telling them they should not. All would be well until some parent decided. It would be a ” cute ” picture of their toddler hand feeding the young ones.

Someone in our group if around would advise against it. Some people heeded our advice. The vast majority looked at us like we were nuts. The geese roughly had a formation ganders in front. Hens and chicks in the back. Children and adults threw bread to both groups. No problems arose.

When a toddler was coached to pass the ganders to hand feed the young ones. That was usually the start of said toddler getting beat up by the gander. Strangely enough this did not happen 100% of the time. Every now and then the ganders would tolerate it.

All this just to point out wild animals are always unpredictable. No matter whether they are conceived as a threat by humans or not.

I’ll be keeping my dogs with me in bear country, they’ll fight a bear a lot better than any human