"That's the Alaska way" (Metlakatla: 2009, living in, law)

[notreesininceland]

Quote:
Even if Vandergaw ends up being killed by the bears he loves, that's the Alaska way, said John Frost, who has been friends with Vandergaw for years. He recalled that when he came to Alaska in 1973 he saw a T-shirt that said "Alaska land of the individual and other endangered species."

Alaska cracks down on man who feeds wild bears - Yahoo! News

[Metlakatla]

I agree with this:

That is not likely to happen now that the state is using a beefed-up law to prosecute Vandergaw for feeding bears. Game officials consider feeding bears a danger to humans, especially if others duplicate the behavior.

[Moose Whisperer]

I completely agree that if Vandergraw was living in an isolated world, he should feed the bears to his heart's content, and if he ends up on the menu as well, then too bad for him. The Govt should stay out. However, in this case those bears, after finishing all of their tasty Vandergraw morsels, would then venture forth to approach other humans expecting a similar dining experience. At which point they would have to be destroyed. So in the end, the wildlife suffers because of the actions of the irresponsible human.

[RayinAK]

Originally Posted by Metlakatla

I agree with this:

I too agree with you on this.

[starlite9]

Had one of those bears approached me in the wild with no apparent fear of me standing there after I made clear my presence by either yelling or firing a warning shot, I would have to assume that they are either going to attack or are sick... In either case once they cross a point of no return, either will they.

The guy was a nut case and will cause the death of most of the bears in one form or another because of his stupidity. Had he run out of food and been unable to placate the bears with a full belly, then he would have been the next filler himself or family. Not to mention that there is other cabins in the area with families in them.

[Crossfire600]

Originally Posted by starlite9

Had one of those bears approached me in the wild with no apparent fear of me standing there after I made clear my presence by either yelling or firing a warning shot, I would have to assume that they are either going to attack or are sick... In either case once they cross a point of no return, either will they.

The guy was a nut case and will cause the death of most of the bears in one form or another because of his stupidity. Had he run out of food and been unable to placate the bears with a full belly, then he would have been the next filler himself or family. Not to mention that there is other cabins in the area with families in them.

Ditto that starlite! They would get one warning shot and if they still thought they were coming to a dinner bell the next one we be in their bell. It's a real shame what this guy did. I often wonder if he thinks he is making some type of amends for hunting them when he was younger. The sad part is he put them in much greater danger than had he left them alone.