Child Lost Overnight In Upper Bear Valley Found (Anchorage: school, living in)

[juneaubound]

Glad to hear he was found in good condition. Have to wonder why he was playing alone when he lives around steep terrain and bear country, and why it took the family so long to contact authorities though:

Child lost overnight found using high-tech heat seeker: Anchorage | adn.com

[Rance]

I grew up in bear country. We used to run around like there was no tomorrow in the woods. Never had any bear trouble probably because of the noise we made as kids. My kids were the same way. Kids have to be allowed outdoors or they turn into animals! And we were younger than that!
At age 12 my folks would drop me off with a canoe on Skilak Lake on a Friday afternoon after school, and pick me up on Sunday afternoon. I never carried a gun. Just the canoe, a tent, sleeping bag, some food and a knife. But I could see and hear...so there's that. I'd have flipped right out if I'd been restrained to the front yard.

[Floyd_Davidson]

Originally Posted by Rance

I grew up in bear country. We used to run around like there was no tomorrow in the woods. Never had any bear trouble probably because of the noise we made as kids. My kids were the same way. Kids have to be allowed outdoors or they turn into animals! And we were younger than that!
At age 12 my folks would drop me off with a canoe on Skilak Lake on a Friday afternoon after school, and pick me up on Sunday afternoon. I never carried a gun. Just the canoe, a tent, sleeping bag, some food and a knife. But I could see and hear...so there's that. I'd have flipped right out if I'd been restrained to the front yard.

When I was 10-12 years old we used to go "bear hunting" all the time! This was in western Washington, and real bear hunters used hounds. We just followed bear trails. We'd even find fresh bear sign now and then.

Then one time when we'd walked down hill for about two miles on an old logging road... we found a bear!

Three of us. We found a really scared black bear cub, and we decided that right behind a really scared cub was bound to be a really mad old sow. We ran two miles back up that hill!

[juneaubound]

I wasn't referring to the boy's age. He is deaf, visually impaired and has cerebral palsy.

[Lakester]

Originally Posted by juneaubound

I wasn't referring to the boy's age. He is deaf, visually impaired and has cerebral palsy.

This could be why he stayed safe - critters sense these things and are apt to act in a different manor than we would expect.

[RamblinRoseRanch]

I would expect they would attack quicker, as he'd be the easiest pickings. (I'm glad the boy was found safe and I agree- with all his issues, he shouldn't have been out there alone. My comments are directed towards the fact that in the wild, it's survival of the fittest and he wouldn't be considered fittest.)

[Rance]

And maybe he'd had enough of the front yard and decided to hit the trail. You can't keep a 12 year old on a leash.

[RamblinRoseRanch]

I understand where you're comin' from, Rance- but with his disabilities, it was doubly dangerous.

[Siouxcia]

Originally Posted by RamblinRoseRanch

I understand where you're comin' from, Rance- but with his disabilities, it was doubly dangerous.

I agree. A deaf child with impaired vision and cerebral palsy living in the wilds of Alaska should be on a 'leash'. That leash should be constant visual supervision of a responsible person when he is outside, especially if he "had enough of the front yard and decided to hit the trail". As much as we want to treat our disabled children as abled, we can't do that at the risk of their well being. This incident magnifies that for the parents of this child.