News that a bear mauls a man is scary, but when you hear that the man
had given the bear food, you realize perhaps he got too close to the
beast. According to a June 17 ABC News report, the man had given the bear barbecue meat before it mauled him at the Alaska campground.
Authorities do not believe that this black bear is a threat to other people in the area. Apparently the man got drunk, and went for a bike ride. He carried some barbecue along with him for his ride, and when he saw the bear, he gave it a piece of meat, and then offered it another.
Alaska State Troopers spokeswoman Beth Ipsen said,
The take away from this strange news story is to never offer a bear food. In fact, do not feed wildlife in general. It can have dangerous consequences. You certainly do not want to find yourself part of a story where a bear mauls a man.
Authorities do not believe that this black bear is a threat to other people in the area. Apparently the man got drunk, and went for a bike ride. He carried some barbecue along with him for his ride, and when he saw the bear, he gave it a piece of meat, and then offered it another.
Alaska State Troopers spokeswoman Beth Ipsen said,
"That's when it kind of went ballistic.The bear was pretty much goaded into this."Ultimately, the bear mauled the drunken man, and now the man faces possible charges of illegally feeding wildlife. So far authorities have not located the bear, and they were unable to get a clear story out of the man who is recovering from his puncture wounds and scratches.
The take away from this strange news story is to never offer a bear food. In fact, do not feed wildlife in general. It can have dangerous consequences. You certainly do not want to find yourself part of a story where a bear mauls a man.