brown bear attack on the russian river

[manchu49]

Brown bear mauls man at Russian River campground
Campers advised to stay in cars until daylight because of danger


The Associated Press

(Published: July 15, 2003)
A brown bear sow mauled a man early Tuesday morning at the Russian River Campground on the Kenai Peninsula.

Dan Bigley, 25, was reported in critical condition at Providence Alaska Medical Center in Anchorage.

Doug Stockdale, spokesman for the U.S. Forest Service, said Bigley's address was listed as Girdwood but that he may be a seasonal worker there.

A sow with two or three cubs charged several people near the stairs of the popular camping area at around 12:30 a.m., Stockdale said.

Witnesses said several brown bears with cubs as well as a black bear were spotted nearby.

Bigley was flown to Anchorage and arrived at about 3:20 a.m.

Campers were encouraged to stay in their vehicles until daylight.

The Forest Service and Alaska State Troopers discouraged fishing on the river until daylight. They also posted warning signs at the campground, trailheads and the ferry that crosses the Kenai River just below the Russian River.


The Anchorage Daily News -

[reeldick]

Happens almost every year. Why don't people listen to the rangers and learn. There are always bears in that area. They come to munch on the carcasses in the river below the fish cleaning tables.

[LIMIT LANDER]

I totally agree with you realdick..people want to be so much "One with nature" that they dont understand what a wild annimal can do to a human being if it gets in its way. I never will forget a old fella that we knew that was a bush piliot in Alaska in the 60,s and 70,s and would guide for moose and Brown bear. He told me about many of circumstances where Brown and Grizzlies would attack just for the meanness of it. and people would still hike in areas where Wardens would tell them not to or warn them about females and cubs in area. He said black bears can kill a human very quickly if prone to do so, and a giant black bear goes approx 500 lbs, and is mainly fat and bone with little mussle. Now what would a 1500 lb annimal that is mussel and bone with a disposition that is twice as mean as a rotweiller and can kill a carabou with one swat, going to do to you. plus the fact they can keep up with a good horse for approx 60 yards. I think i would stay away. I ask him about the things you should do if a bear charges, he told me that is true to a certian point and the point is what if the bear has enough killer instinct to not follow directions!. He said to "stay the hell out of high country" if bears are in the area and never carry a pistol no mater how big the caliber it is. Because if a bear decides to charge and you bring out your "hip cannon" hikers think they can take a head shot and that will be it. "wrong" he says dont forget a big bears head is not square or flat its slanted and he has seen may of "gunslingers" chewed to death because their big bullit glanced off the bears skull only to tick the bear off big time, and if the annimal is with in 50 yards or so you lucky to have one shot.he told us when he would guide he would make sure that the one he was taking out could use his gun well. his clients he advise never to take a "kill" shot but to break the annimal down first with a sholder shot. then you dont have to worry about tracking a wounded bear. so he says there is no safe way to go in to bear country unless you have at least a 300 weatherby and know how to use it well. and if you do make sure you check with with Rangers that know the country well they fly over often with choppers, and spotter planes so they know what is in the area. and that is still not 100% safe.

[GutshotApe]

I fished the Kenai and Russian Rivers back in '79. It was a little un-nerving seeing the bear trails and bear sign along the banks. But the scariest thing of all were the .44 mag hoglegs many if not most people were toting in belt & shoulder holsters...just in case, I suppose. Most of those guys probably drove F-350 diesels with oversize tires, too . To me, the possibility of seeing bears wasn't as much a worry as the possiblity of having a thoroughly PO'd bear to deal with after one of the pistol packers cut loose :shocked: and really made it mad...or maybe they were packin' just for show...to discourage others from crowding in front of 'em on the riverbank? :whazzup: