News, A judge ordered Mary Musselman arrested for feeding bears at her Sebring home; warned to stop twice (coyote, survive)
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SEBRING, Fla - An 81-year-old Sebring woman is behind bars tonight for repeatedly feeding black bears at home after being warned to stop by a judge multiple times.
Mary Musselman, of 5240 Kenilworth Boulevard, is now facing charges ranging from violating probation to battery on a law enforcement officer.
Her property is completely surrounded daily by people tearing up the environment with their ATVs. If she must stop helping the bears to survive then the judge should order the ATV riders to stay far away from that land. Plain and simple.
Not a fan of ATVs for recreation. Also cannot support feeding bear at one's house. Not doing the bears a favor and, though I'm willing to let this woman make her own foolish choices, she's desensitizing the bears to humans and putting them and other people at risk of harmful interactions.
Finally, she doesn't get a pass from me for being aggressive toward a cop regardless of her age.
Feeding bears isn't acting in their best interest. I think that's actually depriving them of their "bear-ness". Black bears are like coyotes - their habitat requirements are pretty flexible and they can make a living just about anywhere. What kills black bears is loss of their human avoidance directives; animal advocates who willfully neglect the law are not required for their well being and, in this case, was actually counter productive.
Not a fan of ATVs for recreation. Also cannot support feeding bear at one's house. Not doing the bears a favor and, though I'm willing to let this woman make her own foolish choices, she's desensitizing the bears to humans and putting them and other people at risk of harmful interactions.
Finally, she doesn't get a pass from me for being aggressive toward a cop regardless of her age.
Ditto. I am not weeping great salt tears for this woman. The authorities went the extra mile with her and then some.
I feed a lot of animals. When I lived in Pa, where there was a huge bear population and they roamed the neighborhoods on a regular basis. I refrained from feeding them. I think they are magnificent creatures and wouldn't want to do anything to jeopardize their well being. Problem is, if this woman has formed an emotional bond with the bears, it's difficult for her to stop. I feel really bad for her as she probably thinks they can't survive without her hand-outs. I know it has to be breaking her heart, even though it is unfounded.
Her property is completely surrounded daily by people tearing up the environment with their ATVs. If she must stop helping the bears to survive then the judge should order the ATV riders to stay far away from that land. Plain and simple.
What the hell do ATV riders have to do with some old lady feeding bears? They aren't forcing this woman to feed the bears are they? Furthermore, unless they are riding on public land, no judge can order them to stop, only the owner of the property.
This is a good time to remember that people are told not to feed bears for many reasons, one of the main one noted is "for their own safety" because we all know A Fed Bear is a Dead Bear, however, just because an animal may not pose a threat do you, or be looked at as majestic, no wild animal should be fed that people normally feed. Deer? It may not tear your tent up like a bear, or t-rex, but you feeding it still habituates it and destroyes the animals life. I'm glad to see they are taking action on this and I hope the woman learns a lesson and no one get's hurt in the process.
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