Re: [pct-l] bear canisters + bear story.

[RRichey535@aol.com]

In a message dated 4/23/99 10:10:43 AM Pacific Daylight Time, 
RTestman@aol.com writes:

<< Of course, we could use 
 merely rubber bullets, at first, to train these humans.)
 Why is it that humans only care about humans, as if we are the only 
important 
 product of this planet? Nonsense. >>

Humans need training, no doubt about it.  Bears and all aspects of the 
ecosystem deserve care and consideration, if not reverence.  Just about 
everybody of this list has chosen to pursue recreation in the bears' habitat, 
so how do we deal with the inevitable interactions between bears and people?  
Ecological disasters like the Yosemite Valley metropolis have conditioned 
bears to act like suburban racoons, and as a result tragically leads to their 
death in many cases.  Several decades ago bears had a natural wariness of 
humans.  All I am suggesting is that we try to restore natural animal 
behavior and ecosystems as possible while still being able to go for a hike.  
A nice first step would be to prevent private cars in Yosemite Valley.  If I 
offended anybody with the rubber bullet idea, I'm sorry.  Actions like using 
rubber bullets are saving the lives of bears in areas like Glacier National 
Park, however.  I would hope such ideas could be considered rationally 
without the lack of respect so common in internet communication.  Happy Earth 
Day,  Bob Richey
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