Bear Killed in Own Backyard

I was really hoping to write more about PLEASURABLE KINGDOM, my new favorite book (see yesterday’s post), but the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources hijacked my original idea when they killed a bear.

"Bear Killed After Biting Boy Scout" (AP), explains that a Boy Scout–sleeping in a tent in the woods–was bitten by a bear. The bite wasn’t even a vicious one, and the boy has only minor puncture wounds. I could’ve done more damage than the bear did.

"They put their mouth on things to see what they taste like . . . . and in this case, there just happened to be a kid’s arm on the other side of the tent," said the regiouanl wildlife manager for the state Division of Wildlife Resources.

Reasonable enough.

But the plot thickened. That evening, barbecued ribs were being prepared for the 90 Scouts, the bear returned, and then was shot to death.

WHAT THE F&CK?

Let’s recap:

1. 90 Boy Scouts leave their own homes to go to the bear’s home, and camp out in his backyard.
2. A Boy Scout’s arm gets accidentally, ever-so-briefly knawed upon.
3. Boy Scout grown-ups (grown-up Boy Scouts?) prepare fragrant meal of enough BBQ for over 90 people.
4. They are surprised when the bear shows up, in his own backyard, for the festivities.
5. Bear is shot to death.
6. And the party who shoots him is from the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources. Wildlife Resources. Is that the division that provides the resources to kill the wildlife in their own habitat?

Once again, wildlife must suffer because we have encroached on them. AND, let’s not forget that the bear wasn’t afraid of people.

Let’s deconstruct that:

1. All bears used to be wild.
2. Some have become more tame, or at least less afraid of humans as a result of being fed by humans and being in proximity to them (which was our doing).
3. The less fearful the bear, the more likely he will come looking for food.
4. The more likely he comes looking for food, the more likely he is to get killed.

I’ve got an idea. How about taking all of that extra food that people seem to have and are feeding to wildlife, and give it to people who have no food.