Best Answer - Chosen by Voters
I spent 3 years camp hosting and saw a lot of people bait the bears, it would seem that the major part of going camping is, seeing the wild animals.over the years, bears have been know to raid the campground dumps to the point of the forest service transporting the campground garbage out of the area.
As long as the boys did not attempt to approach the bears, there was really no harm done. jcms 67% 4 Votes
Other Answers (4)
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The parents seriously need to be educated before they go traipsing around an unfamiliar wilderness and dragging their youngins along. Clearly they don%26#039;t know what they%26#039;re doing. Their ignorance of their surroundings could have gotten people killed, even if they don%26#039;t care for the environment and by not educating/disciplining their youth the ignorance has just been carried on to the next generation.
But since this incident is done and over there%26#039;s really nothing to be done. For future I%26#039;d maybe talk to the ranger about posting better informational signs or offering a hike/class of some kind and if I could offer to help out. 0% 0 Votes -
its really not a bright idea to bait animals and in most states during hunting season baiting is illegal because it takes away from the natural selection from the barrel of a gun... its unfair to other hunters who enjoy the outdoors and those baiting should be fined..not to get off subject.. ok now dont worry about it. Just try and keep your children away from wild animals.. not safe
0% 0 Votes
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it would appear that it%26#039;s done and gone.
the only question i%26#039;d have is, why was the food left out?
if the parents knew, why didn%26#039;t they do anything?
at this point, i%26#039;d stop worrying.
i suspect some other folks will do quite enough of that.
and certainly you can%26#039;t go back and do things differently. 17% 1 Vote -
We have a similar situation in Australia where I live and work as a bushwalking guide. Our problem is not with bears but with wallabies....and most other small beasts too, but the wallaby is a good case in point.
If these wonderful little animals are fed processed food (ppl LOVE feeding them white bread for some reason!) they can develop a repulsive condition called %26quot;lumpy jaw%26quot;. The mechanisms are not fully understood but the results are large calcerous (calcium-based) growths on their jaws which eventually stops them eating and they starve to death.
I am aware that the situations are different but the underlying principle is the same:
Leave all WILD animals to fend for themselves. If you don%26#039;t they will develop a dependancy on humans. This will develop a set of problems such as: what happens in winter when there are no campers? the animals will become aggressive if there is no food forthcoming (not what you want with a bear!!!!), expenses begin to rise for parks services when they are forced to remove rubbish....I%26#039;m sure that there are plenty more.
As far as %26quot;handling%26quot; the incident....I would have taken the young men aside and explained the above to them, asked them to clean the rubbish and then I would have taken them into the forest to sit and wait. If you%26#039;re quiet, attentive and patient, it%26#039;s amazing what animals you%26#039;ll see - IN THEIR NATURAL SUUROUNDINGS!!!!
This is a principle of the %26quot;Leave No Trace%26quot; (or Minimal Impact Bushwealking in Australia) philosophy of backcountry camping. It also shows respect to the animals - a concept which we sadly lack these days!
hope this is of some assistance!
Love and Light,
Jarrah 17% 1 Vote