Let me start by saying: You do not need bear spray in Yosemite

That said, if you are going to Alaska, Yellowstone or other places with grizzly/brown bears, this article is one you should read:

http://www.absc.usgs.gov/research/brownbears/pepperspray/pepperspray.htm

i'm surprised there hasn't been a new show on tv called "The Bear Whisperer"

This whole business of buddying up with large carnivores smacks of playing chicken with a cement truck.

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Old Dude

It's too bad they did not give the history of this particular bear. One can only presume it was taken in as perhaps an abandoned or injured cub and subsequently lived the life of "almost pet" status. Not quite sure what they are trying to do with it now. Re-introdue it slowly to the wild? If so, this is not the way to do it, if that is even possible at this stage.

Jim

Quote
tomdisco
It's too bad they did not give the history of this particular bear. One can only presume it was taken in as perhaps an abandoned or injured cub and subsequently lived the life of "almost pet" status. Not quite sure what they are trying to do with it now. Re-introdue it slowly to the wild? If so, this is not the way to do it, if that is even possible at this stage.

Jim

If you're referring to "Ted the Bear" in the YouTube clip I posted, I think I can explain. They do mention in the clip that Ted had lived most of his life in a box as someone's "pet" - raised by humans and pretty much gentle. Never went out to forage and never learned how to climb trees. I wouldn't imagine that kind of trust with bears in the wild though.

http://www.bear.org/website/index.php?option=com_content&task=blogcategory&id=29&Itemid=56

The previous link explains that Ted grew up in Wisconsin. Apparently Ted grew up with a female companion bear named Honey. Apparently they got really big because they were raised on a high protein diet.

y_p_w,

Thanks for the follow-up info. It's appreciated.

Jim