Black bear sighting in Fish Creek

[peter12]

I was cycling in Fish Creek when I came out of the valley by Evergreen Estates and came about 5 feet from running into a black bear cub.

The cub kind of chased towards me and then went towards the houses. As I was hopping a fence I saw the mother bear.

Fish Creek office is closed and so is Albert Fish and Wildlide. I left a message at Fish and Wildlife.

Should I phone the police as well?

[KevanGuy]

I would. Call the 266-1234 number.

[peter12]

Hooray CPS to the rescue.

[BlackArcher101]

Call A-Channel and you'll make the news too.

[Displaced Flames fan]

Ah...the subtle difference between species.

Had that been a Grizzly cub, you might have been in trouble!

[browna]

There goes my bike ride in that part of Fish Creek.
Yeesh..that less then 1km from our place as the crow flies....better lock the truck doors tonight too.

[CaptainCrunch]

Originally posted by Displaced Flames fan@Aug 29 2004, 12:49 AM
Ah...the subtle difference between species.

Had that been a Grizzly cub, you might have been in trouble!

Dosen't matter much, if you get in between a black bear and its cub, your still in for a large world of hurt.

Even though Black Bears are not as nasty or big as grizzly's, they are still very protective of thier young.

And unlike Grizzly's they'll come up tree's after you

[BlackArcher101]

Here in Thunder Bay, university officials came to class to warn us of a black bear roaming around the school grounds. Their advice if a black bear attacks you, was to fight back, not to run as they will catch you. They said you have a better chance of surviving putting up a fight.

[icarus]

I know a guy who was mountain biking near Canmore; came ripping over a little hill and t-boned a grizzly with his bike. Freaking out, he lifted the bike over his head and slowly backed away from the bear. The bear just stared at him, turned around, and walked away into the woods.

[RougeUnderoos]

Originally posted by browna@Aug 28 2004, 07:06 PM
better lock the truck doors tonight too.

Do black bears steal car stereos or something? I don't get it.

[Displaced Flames fan]

Originally posted by icarus@Aug 29 2004, 01:51 AM
I know a guy who was mountain biking near Canmore; came ripping over a little hill and t-boned a grizzly with his bike. Freaking out, he lifted the bike over his head and slowly backed away from the bear. The bear just stared at him, turned around, and walked away into the woods.

I think I saw him on a Discover Channel show about Grizzly attacks. It featured Dr. Stephen Herrera of U of C. Was that him or do you know?

[Displaced Flames fan]

Originally posted by CaptainCrunch+Aug 29 2004, 01:10 AM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td>QUOTE (CaptainCrunch @ Aug 29 2004, 01:10 AM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'> <!--QuoteBegin-Displaced Flames fan@Aug 29 2004, 12:49 AM
Ah...the subtle difference between species.

Had that been a Grizzly cub, you might have been in trouble!

Dosen't matter much, if you get in between a black bear and its cub, your still in for a large world of hurt.

Even though Black Bears are not as nasty or big as grizzly's, they are still very protective of thier young.

And unlike Grizzly's they'll come up tree's after you [/b][/quote]
Yes, I'm well aware of the behavior of both species.

I don't need to tell you, though, that the number of humans killed by Grizzlies dwarfs the number killed by black bears. I also shouldn't need to tell you that the population of black bears dwarfs the population of Grizzlies.....or that the overlap of black bear range and human range dwarfs the overlap of Grizzly range and human range.

Or maybe I do?

[Gugstanley]

Is it hard to play like you are dead while riding your bike?

[icarus]

Originally posted by Displaced Flames fan@Aug 29 2004, 02:17 AM
I think I saw him on a Discover Channel show about Grizzly attacks. It featured Dr. Stephen Herrera of U of C. Was that him or do you know?

I don't know if he was ever interviewed about it. This guy is a biking machine though (start: tangent). He bikes from Canmore to Lake Louise and back nightly when he gets home from work. He can bike to the coast in two days. And there's a wicked bike course down a mountain in Alberta called Baseline... but you have to walk your bike up because its a bloody mountain without a chairlift and it takes you an hour-and-a-half to do so. But this guy will have riden up the hill and back down twice and being on his way up again by the time you've walked your bike halfway up the hill. Sorry for getting off-topic, but this is the kind of guy who rides his bike into bears.

[jam26]

Originally posted by Gugstanley@Aug 29 2004, 03:31 AM
Is it hard to play like you are dead while riding your bike?

Haha! Good question. If I had a choice between playing dead and riding my bike, I'd be riding my azz off!

[peter12]

Originally posted by Displaced Flames fan+Aug 28 2004, 08:19 PM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td>QUOTE (Displaced Flames fan @ Aug 28 2004, 08:19 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'>

Dosen't matter much, if you get in between a black bear and its cub, your still in for a large world of hurt.

Even though Black Bears are not as nasty or big as grizzly's, they are still very protective of thier young.

And unlike Grizzly's they'll come up tree's after you

Yes, I'm well aware of the behavior of both species.

I don't need to tell you, though, that the number of humans killed by Grizzlies dwarfs the number killed by black bears. I also shouldn't need to tell you that the population of black bears dwarfs the population of Grizzlies.....or that the overlap of black bear range and human range dwarfs the overlap of Grizzly range and human range.

Or maybe I do? [/b][/quote]
That overlap didn't make me any more eager to bike past that cub. Jeebus if it had just been a lone black bear out in the wild it wouldn't have been so bad. But a mom and her 2 cubs? Im pretty sure if I had stuck around I would have run into the mother. As I was backing up as fast as I could away from the cub I heard something bigger coming through the grass towards me.

[Displaced Flames fan]

Well, you did the right thing for sure. But now that you're ok you can look back on it as something that most people will never get to experience. I have an affinity for bears. Magnificent animals.

Just reread my post and man did I come off as a jerk....it wasn't meant that way Captain...I apologize.

Icarus...you should ask this guy if he was interviewed for the documentary...if he wasn't, he might know the guy who was! He did what you described though with his bike so that makes me think it might be the same guy.

[Kidder]

I'm one of those stupid people who would be relieved to see a cub, too ignorant to realize the mother is close at hand.

Then I'd probably try to pet it or something and be mauled to death from the momma a few minutes later.

Conclusion: It's a good thing I wasn't biking through Fish Creek.

Did you call any news stations? I'd like to see this on the news tonight.

[transplant99]

Well, you did the right thing for sure. But now that you're ok you can look back on it as something that most people will never get to experience. I have an affinity for bears. Magnificent animals.


Couldnt agree more Dis.

I am very very fortunate to live where i do, and get to see these awesome creatures on a weekly basis....right out a window in my home.

Absolutely one of natures greatest creations!

[FlamesAddiction]

Growing up in Northern Ontario, there was barely a summer day that went by where I wouldn't see a black bear. I think it's funny that people get freaked out and feel that they need to do something about it. They are no more fierce or dangerous than a raccoon.

I read a stat before that said more people were struck by lightning or attacked by moose every year than by black bears.