Judy in Calgary

Ummm, no. She was running with two other women on a path through the woods NEAR a golf course. There was a bend in the path. As the three women rounded the corner, they saw the bear on the path. That was not a good way to encounter a bear, to approach in silence and take it by surprise.

Two women followed the classical advice, and slowly backed away from the bear. One woman climbed a tree. The woman who climbed the tree was the one whom the bear killed.

I believe it's unlikely that the bear would have attacked the woman if she'd been running across the golf course. In that case, the bear would have had a good view of her approaching, and would not have been taken by surprise.

iaink

And she couldnt outrun all those fat arsed middle age golfers?

Maybe bears have a more discerning taste than I give them credit for....



<imagines bear thinking, "Im not eating anything wearing those pants, no matter how tasty".>



Reminds me that a few years ago The ministry of tourism in Ontario issued a warning to golfers....

Bear Warning Issued

Golfers in the Kawartha lakes area are advised to take extra precautions and keep alert for bears while out on the course due to the danger of bear encroachment from local municipal waste facilties.

We advise people to wear noise-producing devices such as little bells on their clothing to alert but not startle the bear unexpectedly. We also advise carrying pepper spray in case of an encounter with a bear.

It is also a good idea to watch for fresh signs of bear activity and know the difference between black bear and grizzly bear droppings.

Black bear droppings are smaller and contain berries and possibly squirrel fur. Grizzly bear droppings have little bells in them and smell like pepper spray.

SkiBunny

It's to be expected when you play with golf cubs...

fuschiagirl

Oophs - sorry - got it a bit wrong! We were in Canada not long afterwards - I was accompanying 2 keen golfers - and the report we read said on a golf course - not near. Obviously journalistic licence!

Joanne

willmore

Dont forget to pop up to churchill, manitoba (the polar bear capital of the world) where you can get up close and personal with the cutest bears.....!

Here are two links for you to watch them at play.....arent they the cutest things...!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ryYn6Oax7N0

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6zsg0vy
__________________

SkiBunny

lol

MarkG

Thanks, I was trying to remember where I'd read that recently .

SkiBunny

Only the first link worked, but they are sooo cute - that's the problem - I'd be there like a dork filming some adorable little baby bear whilst old ma bear comes up and taps me on the shoulder...

willmore

Bears generally mate in late march/april, and for the most part they have headed back to the chilly waters of hudson bay. I dont know that they would stay that close to civilization when they have little ones unless they are incredibly hungry, but by that time the ice in hudson bay has started to thaw.

My parents actually still have pics of the bears when we visited churchill. Its well worth a trip to see them if you are ever in the area.

Mr Lee

My uncle who lives in the Kootenays told me a story a couple of years back - not at all amusing, but true and it just goes to show how unpredictable bears can be.

One of the local schools had some kids out on a camp and were hiking in the mountains and forests of the area. As you can imagine, the group got a bit straggly on one of the hikes and one young girl ended up seperated from the rest. In her panic she ended up slipping and falling down a slope and knocking herself unconscious.
She was awoken by a large male grizzly pawing at her backpack. Somewhat scared she decided to make a run for it, the bear gave chase, knocked her down and resumed his exploration of her rucksack...

...from whence he grabbed a bar of soap and set about eating it before buggering off.
Needless to say when the girl was found she was somewhat shaken but otherwise unharmed. (and probably embarrassed to have soiled herself I would imagine.)

Calgal

Have a look at the "If you go down to the woods" thread! (or maybe not.....)

steve666

Is that fair though? Should there not be a male gay walkway too? Is there one? What would you call it?

Butch Cassidy

Well if it goes to the lake maybe we could call it Queer Quay?

Biiiiink

This isn't a complete list but is enough to put me off camping at Yellowstone - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of...rica_by_decade

steve666

Or Queens Quay, much more refined