When Animals Strike - Shocking Bear Attack

Summary

The video script discusses the dangers of bear encounters, particularly with mother bears protecting their cubs. It highlights cases of grizzly and black bear attacks, noting that mothers of both species are highly protective. A key incident in Alaska involved hunters narrowly avoiding a grizzly attack by firing a warning shot, while another case describes a man's harrowing experience with a black bear in Colorado. The script emphasizes that while grizzlies are more aggressive, black bears, due to their larger population, are responsible for more frequent attacks in North America.

Takeaways

• 🐻 70% of Grizzly attacks on humans involve mothers protecting their cubs.
• 👨‍🔬 Wart Stone is a wildlife pathologist who studies North American animals.
• 👩‍👦 Just like human mothers, bear mothers are highly protective of their young.
• 🧭 Hunters in Alaska encountered grizzly bear cubs and avoided an attack by firing a warning shot at the mother bear.
• 🐻‍❄️ 66-year-old Wally Cash was attacked by a Grizzly in Yellowstone National Park while hunting, sustaining severe injuries.
• 🦴 Cash required 100 stitches and a titanium plate inserted into his head after the bear attack.
• 🐻 Despite Grizzlies' reputation, black bears are responsible for more injuries in North America due to their larger population.
• 🪓 In June 1999, Kurt Maelle was attacked by a black bear in Colorado Springs while trying to escape by climbing a tree.
• 🚶‍♂️ Maelle kicked the black bear and tried to escape but was repeatedly attacked, though he eventually survived by standing his ground.
• 🏞️ Experts suggest that standing your ground against black bears can be an effective strategy in deterring an attack.

Q & A

What causes 70% of human injuries from grizzly bear attacks?

70% of human injuries from grizzly bear attacks are caused by mother bears defending their cubs.

Who is Wart Stone, and what does he study?

Wart Stone is a wildlife pathologist who studies North American animals, focusing on the behaviors of mothers like bears, humans, and elephants when defending their babies.

How did hunters in Alaska avoid an actual grizzly bear attack?

The hunters encountered grizzly bear cubs and heard the mother making noises to signal them to leave. They avoided a full attack by firing a warning shot, which stopped the bear from charging at them.

What happened to 66-year-old Wally Cash during his encounter with a grizzly bear?

Wally Cash was attacked by a grizzly bear protecting her cubs while hunting in Yellowstone National Park. He needed 100 stitches and had a titanium plate inserted into his head after the attack.

Which bear species attacks humans more often, and why?

Black bears attack humans more often than grizzly bears, likely because there are more black bears in North America—around 750,000 black bears compared to 75,000 grizzlies.

Why are black bears still dangerous despite being smaller than grizzlies?

Black bears are still dangerous because they have the power to injure or kill. They can protect their young aggressively, have claws that can climb and attack, and jaws strong enough to rip through flesh.

What tactic did Kurt Maelle use to avoid a black bear attack?

Kurt Maelle first tried to climb a tree to escape, but when the bear followed him, he kicked it in the head. Eventually, he stood his ground and made noise, which led the bear to back off.

How fast can bears run, and why is it important to know during an encounter?

Bears can sprint 50% faster than humans, making it almost impossible to outrun them. This fact is crucial to know during an encounter because running away is not a viable escape strategy.

What does it mean when a bear stands on its hind legs?

When a bear stands on its hind legs, it is not preparing to strike but is instead sizing up the competition and trying to appear more threatening.

What strategy did Kurt Maelle use to survive the black bear attack?

Kurt Maelle stood his ground and made noise, which eventually caused the bear to back off. Experts suggest this is a good strategy when dealing with black bears.