Deseret News | Bear shot, killed at campground

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Bear shot, killed at campground

I hope ... | 10:44 p.m. July 5, 2009

... the host doesn't get in hot water over this. I'm not happy to see the bear lose its life, but better the bear than one of the kids. If he HADN'T taken action, and someone had gotten hurt, I'm sure he'd be in even deeper, hotter water. I know, I know, "the bears were here first", but if we can't peacefully co-exist, the species with (usually) the dominant brainpower will come out on top.

Tex | 8:03 a.m. July 6, 2009

There was absolutely no reason to kill the bear. The Dept of Wildlife could have trapped, or tranqualized the bear and moved it. Doesn't anyone in Utah have respect or reverence for animal life?

Anonymous | 10:06 a.m. July 6, 2009

A couple of years ago a bear was spotted and chased away only to return a couple of hours later and kill a young boy. Now those involved are getting sued because the parents think that those in charge didn't do enough.

Tex, are you willing to stand there and watch a bear that is not afraid of humans or gunshots for the hour it would take to get a crew in there?

Comments continue below

dbf | 11:55 a.m. July 6, 2009

Tex, do you ever step on ants, have bugs hit your windshield or kill bugs in you garden? It's easy to be "holier than thou" when you set the standard.

HOW STUPID!!!!! | 12:10 p.m. July 6, 2009

The bear did nothing wrong but just be seen and it gets shot?? Good grief if Yellowstone park rangers employed the same irresponsible policy all the bears would be gone. I think this camp host needs to be charged with poaching!! For pete sake call the DWR and let them drug the bear and transport it out of the area. THIS REALLY MAKES ME ANGRY!!!!

Bad choice | 12:37 p.m. July 6, 2009

So campers couldn't call DWR and keep an eye on the bear for even the few hours that it might take for them to respond? That seems like a hasty decision to me. I'm sure the bear could have been relocated or at least let wildlife officers more expert in dealing with the situations determine if it needed to be killed. I agree that the camp host should face some punishment for this. I don't imagine they are deputized to kill animals.

Bill | 12:50 p.m. July 6, 2009

Tex said, "Doesn't anyone in Utah have respect or reverence for animal life?"

Two problems with this statement:

1. How does the actions of ONE camp host translate into no one in Utah having "respect or reverence for animal life"?

2. Just because the camp is "in" Utah doesn't mean the camp host is "from" Utah.

Ed | 3:30 p.m. July 6, 2009

When you mix animals and people things will happen. the bear showing up is not what got it shot. it was the fact that it was not scared, and therefore a danger to people.

we have protected animals for a long time and now we are seeing what happens when you put animals first. it does always go well.

Anonymous | 2:29 p.m. July 14, 2009

all you who think the ranger was in the wrong...why don't we put you and your kids in the campsite with the bear and see if you still don't want anyone to shoot it!

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