Re: Is it OK to deliberately hit a campground bear?

I remember that bear testing bear boxes in Upper Pines a few weeks ago when it finally got one to open. Apparently neither I nor my neighbors could get the bear to take off with screams, noises, etc. Someone got bluff charged and that sort of scared us off from attempting anything more severe. Nobody was terrified of the bear. We were just sort of casually watching from our picnic tables waiting for the cavalry to arrive since the bear was clearly tagged with a transmitter.

Anyone know if it's actually OK (would I get in trouble?) if I deliberately targeted the bear with some sort of blunt object or maybe small rocks? One of the campground neighbors tried the recommended tossing of a rock near the bear, but that didn't phase it. What did seem to get it to leave was a park ranger arriving and the potential for being hit with a projectile such as paintballs or rubber bullets. I know that paintball guns would fall under that "weapons" category (including slingshots) where I'd probably get in trouble if I brought one with me.

I did have nearly a whole case of half-liter plastic water bottles handy. The thought did occur to me that I could grab a bunch and I think I could have hit it from 20-30 feet as it was trying to feed. I don't think it would have been terribly painful, but it would have been unpleasant without much chance of really injuring the bear.

I usually throws rocks at bears. I'm just now good enough to hit them much.

If a bear was going through a bear box i would try throwing a rock at the bear box because im sure it would be a loud thud especially with the bear's head inside. Plus I think it would be okay to hit with a rock because I think a rubber bullet with have more force than someone throwing a rock at a distance.

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Javmp
If a bear was going through a bear box i would try throwing a rock at the bear box because im sure it would be a loud thud especially with the bear's head inside. Plus I think it would be okay to hit with a rock because I think a rubber bullet with have more force than someone throwing a rock at a distance.

If I can't hit a bear, why do you think I could hit the bear box?

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eeek

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Javmp
If a bear was going through a bear box i would try throwing a rock at the bear box because im sure it would be a loud thud especially with the bear's head inside. Plus I think it would be okay to hit with a rock because I think a rubber bullet with have more force than someone throwing a rock at a distance.

If I can't hit a bear, why do you think I could hit the bear box?

I have a barn door you can practice on ;-)

My first such experience with a bear was at Lolo National Forest - my cousin and I were out in the evening reading 'The Hobbit' and drawing pictures after mealtime, and this bear (who was there like a handle on a pot) came up and started mushing around in the cook area near the fire (my aunt and uncle did not keep an immediately neat or bearproof campsite in 1973, and as kids we didn't know any better). We started yelling and screaming, and the bear had no response. My cousin picked up a hefty rock, and just as the bear stood up to get a mroe commanding view of the area, my cousin plugged the rock and hit the bear squarely in the chest. The Bear groaned, and took off across a meadow as fast as he could. Moral of the story - throwing rocks works (somtimes anyway).

We saw the bear several more times that camping trip. It was very exciting. My aunt and uncle were afraid, so I had to sleep inside the car. Phooey.

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Javmp
If a bear was going through a bear box i would try throwing a rock at the bear box because im sure it would be a loud thud especially with the bear's head inside. Plus I think it would be okay to hit with a rock because I think a rubber bullet with have more force than someone throwing a rock at a distance.

I do remember a supposed case where a group of boy scouts panicked when a bear got on their camp and they started throwing rocks right at it. It wasn't just a few rocks to give it a bad taste about entering a human encampment. They kept on pelting it out of fear and killed it.

Anyone specifically remember this, or is what I'm remembering some sort of "urban" (or "wilderness" legend)?

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y_p_w

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Javmp
If a bear was going through a bear box i would try throwing a rock at the bear box because im sure it would be a loud thud especially with the bear's head inside. Plus I think it would be okay to hit with a rock because I think a rubber bullet with have more force than someone throwing a rock at a distance.

I do remember a supposed case where a group of boy scouts panicked when a bear got on their camp and they started throwing rocks right at it. It wasn't just a few rocks to give it a bad taste about entering a human encampment. They kept on pelting it out of fear and killed it.

Anyone specifically remember this, or is what I'm remembering some sort of "urban" (or "wilderness" legend)?

!!! The bear hung around long enough to be killed? Yikes!

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bpnjensen

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y_p_w

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Javmp
If a bear was going through a bear box i would try throwing a rock at the bear box because im sure it would be a loud thud especially with the bear's head inside. Plus I think it would be okay to hit with a rock because I think a rubber bullet with have more force than someone throwing a rock at a distance.

I do remember a supposed case where a group of boy scouts panicked when a bear got on their camp and they started throwing rocks right at it. It wasn't just a few rocks to give it a bad taste about entering a human encampment. They kept on pelting it out of fear and killed it.

Anyone specifically remember this, or is what I'm remembering some sort of "urban" (or "wilderness" legend)?

!!! The bear hung around long enough to be killed? Yikes!

I thought it was a bear that was pelted, but maybe it was just one kid who nailed it in the head. Apparently it was a lot of rocks thrown at it, but one head shot that got it.

There's mention of it here:

http://www.yosemitefun.com/bears.htm

I remember hearing about that story. Unfortunate for the bear.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 08/12/2009 04:22PM by Javmp.

This says a lot: they used rocks the size of "softballs".

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eeek
This says a lot: they used rocks the size of "softballs".

That makes more sense. A 75 lb juvenile bear is about the size of the kids who threw them. A rock the size of a softball could kill a person with a direct hit to the head.

The article mentions "hanging food"; however, it also mentions "Tuolumne campground". I wonder if they were at the established campground, and if they were, why would they be hanging their food? (bear boxes have been around longer than 1996) In retrospect, I am really glad that I have not had any bear encounters during the two times I have actually stayed in established campgrounds. The whole situation sounds like a pain.

B