Denver park closes over risk to visitors trying to take #bearselfies

[Eugene]

Source: The Guardian

Denver park closes over risk to visitors trying to take #bearselfies

Waterton Canyon park closes to the public with blog noting that visitors get
‘sometimes within 10 feet of wild bears’ while taking pictures with the animals

Ellen Brait in New York
Wednesday 16 September 2015 21.17 BST

A recreation and hiking area in Denver has been closed to the public after one too many hikers tried to take the perfect selfie with a bear.

The park, Waterton Canyon, which sees more than 100,000 visitors a year, initially closed on 28 August “due to increased bear activity in the canyon”, according to the initial news release. A biker was chased by a bear in the canyon but was not injured. According to Melanie Kaknes, Colorado parks and wildlife district manager, the decision to close the popular park “was made to reduce the likelihood of a negative encounter from occurring”.

A Denver Water blogpost on 4 September revealed that bears might not be the problem, but rather park visitors hoping for a few more Instagram or Facebook likes.

“We’ve actually seen people using selfie sticks to try and get as close to the bears as possible, sometimes within 10 feet of wild bears,” Brandon Ransom, Denver Water’s manager of recreation, said in the blogpost. “The current situation is not conducive for the safety of our visitors or the well-being of the wildlife.”

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Read more: http://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2015/sep/16/denver-park-closes-risk-selfies-with-bears

[HassleCat]

1. Just put up some signs

Remind people of what they should already know, that bears may harm them. Then let them do what they want. 100k people a year go there to see the bears. I don't know why it would be a big deal if a couple bears get angry and dish out a few whacks to people who get too close.

[exboyfil]

2. Like this one

Due to the frequency of human-bear encounters, the B.C. Fish and Wildlife Branch is advising hikers, hunters, fishermen and any persons that use the out of doors in a recreational or work related function to take extra precautions while in the field.

We advise the outdoorsman to wear little noisy bells on clothing so as to give advanced warning to any bears that might be close by so you don’t take them by surprise.

We also advise anyone using the out-f-doors to carry “Pepper Spray” with him is case of an encounter with a bear.

Outdoorsmen should also be on the watch for fresh bear activity, and be able to tell the difference between black bear feces and grizzly bear feces. Black bear feces is smaller and contains lots of berries and squirrel fur. Grizzly bear shit has bells in it and smells like pepper.

http://www.outdooroddities.com/2008/07/23/grizzly-bear-warning-sign/

[struggle4progress]

3. Stupid tourist encounters with bears produce more aggressive bears

[temporary311]

6. Problem is, after the bears hurt the idiots,

the bears end up being killed.

[Drahthaardogs]

10. Because the bear will be destroyed

This policy is to protect the bear, not people

[HassleCat]

11. Yeah, I know

Regrettably, it is policy to shoot bears that attack people. That's unfortunate, since the people are generally at fault. guess what I would really like is to have a situation where nothing happens when wild animals defend themselves against people, hikers fall off cliffs, etc.

[Initech]

4. OK fuck it, just let Donald Trump run the country at this point.

If people can't learn that bears and selfies are a bad combination, we don't deserve nice things. Fuck it, Donald, you win.

[Shandris]

5. Okay I'm not so sure I'd go THAT far, but...

...I definitely was wondering whether saving so many lives is really doing us much good as a society.

[NuclearDem]

7. At this point, parks should require licenses to even visit.

Between the people who litter and don't pick up after themselves, the ones who deface protected areas, and the ones who don't know how to properly interact with animals, there are just too many people who are ruining it for the rest of us.

[Solly Mack]

8. A long time ago I lived in the Springs. One morning I came out to find a bear

next to my car. I immediately went back inside to call work. I was going to be late. I also called the local wildlife office to report the bear in the area. I watched the bear from the safety of my house. He rooted around awhile and then left.

I am in awe of nature. I'm not silly enough to think nature is in awe of me.

It's not.

[geek tragedy]

9. I think photos of people who have been killed/eaten by bears should be posted nearby nt

[Eleanors38]

12. Wow. So who will be the next generations helping to preserve the outdoors?

Those who bring their urban sensibilities to wild places and arrogantly demand they be satisfied? And if they aren't, will they give a hoot or even $35 to support efforts at conservation and preservation? Complain mightily about these incidents, only realize that hunters and fishers are chiefly the ones putting in the money and effort to keep the outdoors just that. And they are under constant attack as well.

[longship]

13. Famous last words: "Hold my beer. Watch this!" nt