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Friday, May 9, 2008
Have you had a Man vs. Wild encounter?
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Have you ever seen a bear in the woods while hiking or trout fishing in north Georgia? Was it no big deal? Or did it scare the heck out of you?
The state DNR sent out a press release late in the week reporting that a black bear was spotted in Roswell, and that, obviously, local residents were concerned.
It’s no surprise a bear was seen in the ‘burbs, especially this time of year, when young male bears on their own for the first time begin roaming to establish their own territories. That sometimes mean they stumble into urbanized areas. If left alone, the bears will eventually return to their traditional range.
“If a black bear is sighted passing through an area, the best thing to do is to leave it alone,” said Adam Hammond, WRD wildlife biologist. “Residents should never approach a bear and never, under any circumstances, feed a bear. Even worse, attempting to ‘tree’ or corner a bear in a certain area often compromises both the safety and welfare of the bear and the safety of the residents in the surrounding area.”
This got me thinking about wildlife encounters that outdoors enthusiasts have. I’ve never really some across a wildlife situation that I thought was dangerous.
Earlier this month, me and my 10-year-old participated in a Scout camping weekend near Clayton and were awaken by a bear, whose roar echoed through the woods. The animal roared three or four times, and while it was a bit unsettling, it really was no big deal.
I’ve surprised a few poisonous snakes over the years, and I had strange staredown with a raccoon that had me getting my fishing pole ready to use to swat it. But that’s about it.
Not exactly Man vs. Wild, huh?
So, what about you? Do you have a story, whether scary or funny, to tell about a wild encounter?
