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snowcreature23 · 06-21-2008, 10:33 PM

COLIN TYLER BOGUCKI / The Associated Press

This bear, which was suffering from three bullet wounds, was apparently looking for a place to curl up and die along the Sterling Highway near Soldotna June 15, 2008, when it drew a crowd of about 100 with cameras and cell phones. One spectator reportedly threw rocks at the animal. The bear was later euthanized.

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The bear had picked a spot just a couple dozen feet off the Sterling Highway on the outskirts of Soldotna. And passing motorists wanted a look.

Wildlife biologist Jeff Selinger with the Alaska Department of Fish and Game was driving into town with his son after spending Father's Day together when he saw a circus unfolding on the asphalt ahead near Mackey Lake Road.

Traffic was stopped. More than 100 people were walking in the road and jumping the guardrail to get up-close pictures on their cell phones and cameras. Some were within 30 yards of the dying bear. One man threw rocks, apparently trying to force the bear into a better position for a photo.

"It should have been pretty obvious that there was something wrong with the animal, and they should have given it some space," Selinger said Wednesday. "In my opinion, it was just looking for a spot to curl up and die."

The animal had visible gunshot wounds in its paw and rump -- injuries suffered well before Sunday.

There had been reports of a sow and cubs in the area, and Selinger was initially concerned the young bear may have been one of the cubs. That could have meant an angry sow was around as people crept closer and closer to the struggling bear.

Selinger said he confronted the rock-thrower, who got "a bit irritated" and made clear he didn't think the biologist should be telling him what to do. So Selinger called the police.

In the end, no one was cited, but Selinger, accompanied by officers from the Alaska Wildlife Troopers, Soldotna police and the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge broke up the crowd so they could deal with the bear.

Once the crowd dispersed, officials put the bear down with a rifle shot, at least the fourth it had sustained in its short life: While examining the animal, Selinger found a hidden gunshot wound to its gut, he said.

There was no way to know why the bear had been repeatedly shot, but the location of some of the wounds indicated the animal was not being legally hunted or shot in self-defense, he said. After examining the animal, it looked to be a male about 3 or 4 years old -- too old to be with its mother, he said.

There was a prospective taker for the meat, but the gunshot wound to the bear's rump had killed some tissue and tainted the flesh, Selinger said. Instead, Fish and Game salvaged the skull and hide then buried its carcass at the local landfill.

Selinger urged people to keep a safe distance from wildlife while trying to view it and to avoid harassing it. Failure to do so can result in fines, he said.

"The public should not be cornering the wildlife in that manner," Selinger said. "When they act in that manner, they put the animals' health at risk and (that of) the members of the public."

ponytail · 06-23-2008, 06:08 AM

That is so sad. Poor thing. I'd of probably punched the guy throwing rocks. Now the bear is at peace.

06-21-2008, 10:33 PM	#1
snowcreature23 Jason is waiting. Forum Regular Join Date: Oct 16, 2007 Location: Kenai,Alaska. Posts: 758	Sad Bear Story COLIN TYLER BOGUCKI / The Associated Press This bear, which was suffering from three bullet wounds, was apparently looking for a place to curl up and die along the Sterling Highway near Soldotna June 15, 2008, when it drew a crowd of about 100 with cameras and cell phones. One spectator reportedly threw rocks at the animal. The bear was later euthanized. Related Links Photos: Reader-submitted bear gallery Photos: Urban bears Video: Bears vs. trash cans Bear sightings message board More bear stories Submit a photo of the Soldotna bear Wildlife features and coverage Wildlife photo gallery Extensive collection of images of Alaska animals roaming the wilderness and, in many cases, our own backyard. More Wildlife stories Coverage of Alaska wildlife; its impact on our community and the environment's impact on its survival. Also see: Moose in Alaska \| Submit sightings Polar Bears and the environment Bear Attacks archive \| Submit sightings More Kenai stories » The bear had picked a spot just a couple dozen feet off the Sterling Highway on the outskirts of Soldotna. And passing motorists wanted a look. Wildlife biologist Jeff Selinger with the Alaska Department of Fish and Game was driving into town with his son after spending Father's Day together when he saw a circus unfolding on the asphalt ahead near Mackey Lake Road. Traffic was stopped. More than 100 people were walking in the road and jumping the guardrail to get up-close pictures on their cell phones and cameras. Some were within 30 yards of the dying bear. One man threw rocks, apparently trying to force the bear into a better position for a photo. "It should have been pretty obvious that there was something wrong with the animal, and they should have given it some space," Selinger said Wednesday. "In my opinion, it was just looking for a spot to curl up and die." The animal had visible gunshot wounds in its paw and rump -- injuries suffered well before Sunday. There had been reports of a sow and cubs in the area, and Selinger was initially concerned the young bear may have been one of the cubs. That could have meant an angry sow was around as people crept closer and closer to the struggling bear. Selinger said he confronted the rock-thrower, who got "a bit irritated" and made clear he didn't think the biologist should be telling him what to do. So Selinger called the police. In the end, no one was cited, but Selinger, accompanied by officers from the Alaska Wildlife Troopers, Soldotna police and the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge broke up the crowd so they could deal with the bear. Once the crowd dispersed, officials put the bear down with a rifle shot, at least the fourth it had sustained in its short life: While examining the animal, Selinger found a hidden gunshot wound to its gut, he said. There was no way to know why the bear had been repeatedly shot, but the location of some of the wounds indicated the animal was not being legally hunted or shot in self-defense, he said. After examining the animal, it looked to be a male about 3 or 4 years old -- too old to be with its mother, he said. There was a prospective taker for the meat, but the gunshot wound to the bear's rump had killed some tissue and tainted the flesh, Selinger said. Instead, Fish and Game salvaged the skull and hide then buried its carcass at the local landfill. Selinger urged people to keep a safe distance from wildlife while trying to view it and to avoid harassing it. Failure to do so can result in fines, he said. "The public should not be cornering the wildlife in that manner," Selinger said. "When they act in that manner, they put the animals' health at risk and (that of) the members of the public." Attached Images
	__________________ JUST BELEIVE Last edited by snowcreature23; 06-22-2008 at 02:26 AM.

06-23-2008, 06:08 AM	#2
ponytail Member Forum 4000 Club Member Join Date: Mar 20, 2004 Location: In Happy, Healthy, Wealthyville Posts: 4,273	That is so sad. Poor thing. I'd of probably punched the guy throwing rocks. Now the bear is at peace.