Why don't we just exterminate all bears?

[topfiverecords]

Originally Posted by Wormius

Are we talking about animals still?

We were talking about animals before?

[topfiverecords]

Originally Posted by Cali Panthers Fan

This thread is funny. You're far more likely to die from a mosquito bite as a disease vector than you ever would from a bear.

People really need to take some time to understand statistical data and concepts like relative risk.

Out in the regular world, but those statistics must flip drastically when entering a bear enclosure at the zoo.

[Fuzz]

Originally Posted by Russic

While it's true that if death is our primary concern, we should probably be more afraid of butter than bears... what the hell, I'll bite.

If we looked at this as a legitimate business opportunity to skim money off people who are bad at stats, it isn't a crazy idea. People spend money on copper bracelets to pull bad vibes out of their wrists, so I'm sure they'd buy a bear deterrent. Bonus: because of the stats, you'll be able to gloat about your insane success rates (kinda like Lisa's Tiger Repelling Rock).

Using AI to tackle this problem isn't even a bad idea, we just need to iron out some kinks. What we need is essentially the "Not a Hotdog" app, but for bears. All you'd need is basically a motion activated trail camera that analyzes the image to see if it's a bear or squirrel. If squirrel = do nothing; If bear = explode.

Your issues will be the current state of local AI. Without reliable and fast internet, the computation will have to happen on-device, so you're essentially carting some NVIDIA-powered gaming PC into the woods every single time. And powering it. And keeping it dry. And keeping raccoons from using it to play Call of Duty.

ChatGPT ran some numbers and it seems confident your base cost just to make this thing would be somewhere in the ballpark of $800USD. You could go cheaper, but it'll go off all night and your fellow campers will kill you long before the bears do.

Factoring in marketing, packaging, and other variables, your consumer price is probably creeping towards $3000USD. We've already established your target consumer is bad at math, so maybe this is ok?

I don't understand why you need a zoo. From the sounds of it, you live at Grizzly Ground Zero, so just test it in your driveway.

Which leads me to a further thought: I don't think your target audience is campers as much as it's municipalities and campground operators. In a very strange and un-Sliver sort of way, you're not going far enough. False positives matter a lot less 1km outside the town limits. You're essentially creating a shark net on the beach instead of arming everybody with personal shark deterring <thing that hasn't been invented yet>.

I think turning over detonation of an explosive device to consumer level "AI" is far more terrifying an idea than a bear.

[PepsiFree]

That brings up a valid point actually. Lots of talk about how, statistically, you’re more likely to die from a mosquito, a car crash, etc.

But people drive every day. Mosquitos, at least here, are pretty prevalent.

If you were hanging out with a Grizzly in the wild, or even just in Grizzly territory, every day, I have to imagine your chance of dying are statistically way higher than either of the others.

[bizaro86]

Originally Posted by Russic

raccoons using it to play Call of Duty.

I would like to subscribe to your newsletter.

[bizaro86]

Originally Posted by PepsiFree

That brings up a valid point actually. Lots of talk about how, statistically, you’re more likely to die from a mosquito, a car crash, etc.

But people drive every day. Mosquitos, at least here, are pretty prevalent.

If you were hanging out with a Grizzly in the wild, or even just in Grizzly territory, every day, I have to imagine your chance of dying are statistically way higher than either of the others.

Even in Winnipeg in the summer I think deaths from mosquito related illnesses are pretty low - not much malaria in Canada generally.

[BigThief]

Originally Posted by PepsiFree

That brings up a valid point actually. Lots of talk about how, statistically, you’re more likely to die from a mosquito, a car crash, etc.

But people drive every day. Mosquitos, at least here, are pretty prevalent.

If you were hanging out with a Grizzly in the wild, or even just in Grizzly territory, every day, I have to imagine your chance of dying are statistically way higher than either of the others.

But adding to that if we were all hanging out with Grizzlies as much as we all drive then those statistics would free fall because the bear can only eat so many before ignoring the vast majority of the population
.

[PepsiFree]

Originally Posted by BigThief

But adding to that if we were all hanging out with Grizzlies as much as we all drive then those statistics would free fall because the bear can only eat so many before ignoring the vast majority of the population
.

The bear population would explode with so many people to eat! It could be a vicious cycle.

[Red Slinger]

Originally Posted by CliffFletcher

I don’t share Sliver’s fear of bears, but I do have an irrational dread of sharks. To the point where I won’t go in above my thighs in water where sharks habitate.

We share a terrestrial nature with bears, and you can typically see or hear them far enough away to react and move away. With sharks, we’re in their natural element, not ours, and you don’t see them until they’re biting your leg off. Also, they’re freaky and primordial.

I have a similar irrational fear of sharks and have a lot of trouble going into the ocean but I do it. I used to have a similar fear to bears but as I learned more about them, their habits, their behavior and what leads to negative encounters, I am much more comfortable to the point where I get really excited to see a bear in the wild.

But sharks can still go #### themselves.

[Locke]

Whoa there, alright now, lets stick with the Bears, I feel like I have to defend my favourite animals...Sharks.

They are amazing creatures, I've swam with sharks multiple times, sharks are awesome! Leave them out of this!

Sharks are some of the coolest animals on the planet!

[Red Slinger]

Originally Posted by Locke

Whoa there, alright now, lets stick with the Bears, I feel like I have to defend my favourite animals...Sharks.

They are amazing creatures, I've swam with sharks multiple times, sharks are awesome! Leave them out of this!

Sharks are some of the coolest animals on the planet!

Are you completely ignorant of the events at Amity Island in the 1970's???!!!

Even Cocaine Bear didn't go on that kind of rampage.

[Locke]

Originally Posted by Red Slinger

Are you completely ignorant of the events at Amity Island in the 1970's???!!!

Even Cocaine Bear didn't go on that kind of rampage.

Alex Kintner had it coming! By all accounts he was a whiny brat and nobody missed him. The Shark was doing the community a favour! Rumour has it that he also wasn't all that delicious.

And lets not drag Cocaine Bear into this! He was not responsible for his actions. There is no way a bear could possibly understand the effects of that much cocaine on their cognitive and decision making abilities.

[Titan2]

I think he may be onto something. I have a very good flashlight. Was walking the dog at night and a coyote crossed our path. I have a fair sized dog but the coyote was not the least bit fazed by either of us. I shone the light in his eyes and he took off.

[Sliver]

Titan knows what's up.

[KelVarnsen]

Maybe just stay home?

[Locke]

Originally Posted by Titan2

I think he may be onto something. I have a very good flashlight. Was walking the dog at night and a coyote crossed our path. I have a fair sized dog but the coyote was not the least bit fazed by either of us. I shone the light in his eyes and he took off.

I've had a few run-ins with Coyotes, and unless they're in a pack they're not prepared to deal with anything as big as a person.

[topfiverecords]

Originally Posted by PepsiFree

The bear population would explode with so many people to eat! It could be a vicious cycle.

Lake Bonavista residents are good nutrition for fertility.

[CliffFletcher]

Originally Posted by Red Slinger

Are you completely ignorant of the events at Amity Island in the 1970's???!!!

If you want real nightmare fuel, read Close to Shore, the book about the series of shark attacks on the New Jersey coast in 1916 that killed 4 swimmers. The attacks were the inspiration for Jaws.

[undercoverbrother]

Originally Posted by CliffFletcher

I don’t share Sliver’s fear of bears, but I do have an irrational dread of sharks. To the point where I won’t go in above my thighs in water where sharks habitate.

We share a terrestrial nature with bears, and you can typically see or hear them far enough away to react and move away. With sharks, we’re in their natural element, not ours, and you don’t see them until they’re biting your leg off. Also, they’re freaky and primordial.

My wife and I went cage diving with Great Whites off the coast of South Africa

Absolutely ####ing amazing

[undercoverbrother]

Originally Posted by PepsiFree

The bear population would explode with so many people to eat! It could be a vicious cycle.

Or a delicious cycle if you are a bear