Originally Posted by
CJR
Lloyd,
Thank you so much for your astute response. I see now that you like to further minimize the risks of black bear encounters by comparing the black bear encounters to the ENTIRE POPULATION OF THE USA, which is a sample size of about 325,000,000 people. Yeah right.
Regarding black bears killed in PA. All black bear kills in PA are supposed to be reported to the PA Game Commission and are thus recorded. So instead of "cherry picking" your fact sources; you need to ask the PA Game Commission for the PA black bear kills/weights instead of citing Wiki-whatever. I completely understand you're having a real hard time accepting facts, but the facts remain;
1. Your risk of encountering black bears ALWAYS INCREASES WHEN YOU ENTER BLACK BEAR COUNTRY. A much greater rick than entering your local Walmart or the risk to about 325,000,000 people living in the USA.
2. Black bears are PREDATORS and always have been PREDATORS and are not play-animals or friends of children. It is fact that they have run-down, killed or mauled or eaten babies, children, and adults.
Whether you believe or accept these facts is immaterial to me. My sole purpose here is to increase the awareness of the greater risk of black bear encounters when one enters an area containing black bear. How anyone, prepares for that walk in a black bear area, is their choice alone.
Oh and thanks again for recommending I carry a large broom in bear country. That's the best tip I've ever received.
Best regards,
CJR