Bear kills woman in Rainy River District

[HD]

Bear kills woman in Rainy River District



Written by Mike Aiken

Police in the Rainy River area are investigating the death of a 62-year-old woman, after she was attacked by a bear. The incident happened late Saturday, and the bears on the secluded Red Pine Island were dispatched by officers.

Staff with the Ministry of Natural Resources are also working with the OPP to see if any next steps are necessary. At this time of year, bears of foraging for food, as they prepare to hibernate.

National Geographic offers the following tips for avoiding conflict with bears:

Don't unwittingly attract them: Bears have a better sense of smell than dogs and love humans' food. So the main strategy to avoid run-ins is to minimize any scents or attractants on your body, campsite, or property.

Carry bear spray: A person traveling in bear country should wear the spray on a holster in front of their bodies, so that they're not fumbling for it if they run smack into a bear.

Travel in groups: A bear is more likely to retreat, if it sees or smells several people walking toward it than if a single person approaches.

Never run: Keep watching the animal as you walk away, and some experts suggest speaking out loud in a calm voice.

[deadeye]

"Don't unwittingly attract them: Bears have a better sense of smell than dogs and love humans' food. So the main strategy to avoid run-ins is to minimize any scents or attractants on your body, campsite, or property."

And, just how do you stop you body scents?  That would be a deer hunters dream.

[Rebel SS]

   

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[LPS]

Cooking bacon over a fire is part of camping. 

[Rebel SS]

Cooking bacon over a fire is part of camping.

 

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[mike89]

 

[Reinhard]

So it makes me wonder just how these things happen.  The lady went on that island to check on her dogs one article says.  Did she have a cabin on that island?  If not why would her dogs be there.  Guess I just go to deep in some of these events.  She must of felt comfortable going to that island, going there alone.  So tragic.  Nobody knows what events led up to the bears attacking her.  Very rare.  If you are going into the wilderness for a hike or any reason defend yourself just in case.  Me I carry a 45.  At least a good strong bear spray. 

I remember in my younger days when I had no defensive method to defend myself out in the wilderness.  My brother and I would fish the trout streams up north way up stream where a lot of guy's would not go.  I ran into two bears that I can remember.  Both ran away.  So attacks are rare.  Then I started to carry a handgun while deer hunting.  Wasn't for protection in my mind.  I felt comfortable and had no fear in the woods.  The handgun was used for signals to the other guy's in our deer camp.  If you shot a doe you shot once with the handgun.  Buck you shot twice.  Just something we did.

It wasn't until 2 years ago muzzy hunting when I had my run in with the 5 wolves that I posted about here before that I finaly had some fear.  Maybe a good thing.  That's when I upgraded to a .45 with more firepower.  Have things changed over time with our relationships with wild animals like wolves and bears?  Do they have less fear of us now than they did before?  Maybe, but it's smart to be safe out there.  good luck.

[LPS]

I have also been wondering what lead up to this happening.  I didn't realize she was checking on her dogs.  So there were more than one bear on this island?  Wonder how big it is?  What a terrible way to die...

[Reinhard]

Just read the story again.  It's from WDIO TV Duluth.  The woman was 62 and it was her mom who called the police.  She told them that she went to check on her dogs and had not returned.  Police found the body and the bear nearby.  They shot that bear and two others.  No word on the dogs which was strange.  This was on the Canadian side of the border.  I'm sure more details will come out later.  She must of had a cabin there I would think and went out to check on the dogs.  Can't imagine someone just dropping off their dogs on a island to check on them once in awhile.  Her mom called so I'm thinking she was there also  [in the cabin].  good luck.

[Steve-o]

If they shot "the" bear and "two others" it probably explains why she was attacked.  Mom protecting cubs?

[Rebel SS]

I read two other articles on that; both said she was the only person on the island....

[delcecchi]

I have also been wondering what lead up to this happening.  I didn't realize she was checking on her dogs.  So there were more than one bear on this island?  Wonder how big it is?  What a terrible way to die...

I don't know about there, but Lake Vermilion which isn't that far away was quite dry with a bad berry crop this summer. 

So, could be the bear was hungry.  Could be it got riled up by the dogs and along came the woman....   Cubs might have been involved.

[Rebel SS]

You picked all it's berries for yer peanut-berry cookies, didn'tcha?

[Outdoors Junkie]

https://www.fox9.com/news/minnesota-woman-killed-by-bear-near-canadian-border

Authorities said the incident took place on a secluded island with no other residence.

[Outdoors Junkie]

A little more information in the article linked below:

https://www.msn.com/en-ca/news/canada/woman-62-dies-on-northwestern-ontario-island-after-evident-bear-attack-police-say/ar-AAGKJpD


The other two bears were estimated to be yearlings.

The "residence" was their summer cottage.

The mother began to worry when the dogs returned to the cottage without their owner (her 62yr old daughter).

Other people on the island were notified of the attack, police said.

[Reinhard]

Thanks for the update.  So she did have a cottage on the island which all makes more sense now.  Terrible way to go.  Who would of thought this could happen on a island or anywhere else for that matter with black bears..  Prayres for the womans mom and rest of family.  good luck.

[delcecchi]

You picked all it's berries for yer peanut-berry cookies, didn'tcha?

nope

[LPS]

Ya RH.  Especially with their scent and their dogs scent all around the place you would have thought the bears wouldn't have even wanted to be there. 

[delcecchi]

Ya RH.  Especially with their scent and their dogs scent all around the place you would have thought the bears wouldn't have even wanted to be there.

I think the bears get used to the scent of people, like the deer that come through my yard must.   

[Gunner55]

  I've had 1 doe, there's 2 & 2 yearlings that go through our property almost daily a lot of the year, stand & stare at me while on the wheeler for at least 2-3 minutes several times , so I agree Del. This is all while I'm less than 10, maybe 20 yds away so they've got to get accustomed to being around people.

[Rebel SS]

I would imagine some new scent in the air, with a sighting of a "new" creature, when you  have your two cubs = full protection mode.

[LPS]

I just hope she wasn't feeding the bears intentionally. 

[snow1]

NG forgot one more important factor in bear country always hike with somone you can out run...

[Steve-o]

Sometimes you are just in the wrong place at the wrong time.  R.I.P.

[delcecchi]

I wonder if she didn't do something unwise like try to get between the bear and her dogs...?

[Jerkbiat]

If there were 2 smaller bears there like the report says. She probably got between momma and the cubs.