April 29, 2013 Be Bear Aware!!

Seward Alaska Sporadic Bear Alert

Check out this link at Alaska Dispatch <http://www.alaskadispatch.com/article/20130429/wrestling-match-aggressive-alaska-brown-bear-yields-only-minor-injuries>

Summary: Awesome birders Toby and Laura Burke accompanied by three of their children encountered an erratic brown bear sow while birding their local Kasilof River beach near Kenai, Alaska. Toby quickly used his head and the equipment he had at hand. He jammed his spotting scope into the bear's mouth and after the sow snapped it off, fended her off with his tripod. Luckily, the sow soon retreated and the family escaped with only minor cuts to Toby. The troopers arrived and the bear charged them too, resulting in her death. Her actions are considered very unusual.

What a relief that the Burkes are OK!!

Bottom line, be bear aware. Carry bear spray and be alert, especially when birding!

Happy Birding!

Carol Griswold

Seward Sporadic Bird Report Reporter

PS Here's a few more links to other reports:

Apparently the bear was blind in one eye and partially blind in the other, and was about 10 years old, and had no cubs.

<http://redoubtreporter.wordpress.com/2013/05/01/bear-in-mind-unarmed-birder-fights-off-unusual-brown-bear-attack-on-kasilof-beach/>

<http://peninsulaclarion.com/news/2013-04-29/bear-attacks-man-on-beach>
<http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/headlines/2013/05/alaska-man-fights-off-bear-walks-away-with-minor-injuries/>