tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8732486.post23381976736706313..comments2023-10-26T03:19:41.569-07:00Comments on Stephen Bodio's Querencia: Grizzly wakeSteve Bodiohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14434597061701369867noreply@blogger.comBlogger13125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8732486.post-91996727859170733132012-08-07T06:00:10.723-07:002012-08-07T06:00:10.723-07:00Yeah, these grizzlies have been here a long time(a...Yeah, these grizzlies have been here a long time(at the N. C. Zoo)--I've been here 10 years now, and they were here long before that! However, I AGREE that such info should be on the educational signs for the public--it is interesting as well as informative--although the maneating could be offensive to some, no doubt, even if it attracts the sense of macabre that is a strong characteristic of the general public. Not unlike the theme in that hoot-of-a-movie "Fierce Creatures", where, to try and raise revenue at a finacially troubled zoo(what zoos DON'T have financial troubles?), the management decided to ONLY exhibit "Fierce Creatures" to attract the public! And ironically, this movie was based on some actual incidents at the London Zoo(or one of its affiliates), and the rumor is, our current Director(at the N. C. Zoo) is the John Cleese character in this movie!(our current Director IS British, at least) Anyway, I don't think our zoo is trying to mislead the public, it is just HARD to get accurate, sensible interesting animal signs here about ANYTHING! All these people in charge of that don't have the knowledge(or interest, it seems) to do factual animal information, and their priorities are often elsewhere(we have an entire seperate department that JUST does "Design"). For instance, most of our cougar signage is inaccurate and out-of-date--drives me BONKERS! I have been trying FOR YEARS to get it fixed, with no luck--animal keepers are too far down the hierarchy here, and we have(alas), a VERY bloated, competitive hierarchy! I know other large zoos are the same, so even something as seemingly simple as GETTING ACCURATE SIGNAGE done is unbelievably complicated and political! But if I ever buy this zoo and take over, I WILL have such signage!!!....L.B.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8732486.post-21144449931765179512012-08-06T15:12:45.026-07:002012-08-06T15:12:45.026-07:00Well that explains it - I didn't read that cle...Well that explains it - I didn't read that clearly! Sorry!Cat Urbigkithttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12649103651692682453noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8732486.post-82382844908223005702012-08-06T15:08:39.849-07:002012-08-06T15:08:39.849-07:00Before Lane Jumps in to say it- his zoo is in Nort...Before Lane Jumps in to say it- his zoo is in North CAROLINA, not NY.<br /><br />Somehow I think the urban naivete of NYC might be more inclined to see maneaters as benign than rural people (and hey, I love NY (;-))Steve Bodiohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14434597061701369867noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8732486.post-51142280149647293482012-08-06T14:48:35.208-07:002012-08-06T14:48:35.208-07:00My apology if I'm wrong about which bears went...My apology if I'm wrong about which bears went to which New York zoo. Now please don't jump to conclusions about the rest - I never said to advertise that they were maneaters. But I think we need to be more honest about where these animals come from - and be more direct about it. People should know that the reason they are in captivity was because of certain factors, and need to be educated about how to reduce the potential for further such conflicts.<br />I can't imagine being a family member of a person who was killed and eaten by a large predator, knowing that people were going to view those animals in a zoo, blissfully unaware of what they were seeing. I find the notion sickening.Cat Urbigkithttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12649103651692682453noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8732486.post-55703405169684890092012-08-06T13:40:17.147-07:002012-08-06T13:40:17.147-07:00Those must be other bears somewhere else, as our t...Those must be other bears somewhere else, as our two came as older adults(both males)of different ages, and at seperate times. I'm sure WHY they are here is recorded in their records, it's just that I don't know for sure--just that they were problem bears of some sort. I'll have to see if I can find out! So, I'm not sure exactly what you mean by not agreeing to let them live in captivity because "we are not honest about why they are there"?? Does this mean if it were advertised that they were maneaters to the public that would then be okay with you? Actually(and sadly), this would make them MORE of a draw to the public if it were true and publicized! Many of our animals are rescues of one kind or another(like the two cougars I care for), but none of it is publicized in any way, which I think is a mistake--people like hearing animals histories, and it makes them realize zoos can serve a purpose in recuing otherwise doomed animals. We are allowed to tell visitors about animals' histories, but no such information is on any of the signage in the park. Human politics aside, our very content and friendly grizzlies enjoy what life they have very much, even if it is not perfect. But who among us has a perfect life? Not trying to rile anybody up here, just curious for discussion's sake!....L.B.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8732486.post-15835989761995007372012-08-06T11:05:32.463-07:002012-08-06T11:05:32.463-07:00Lane,
I hate to say this, but I know the history o...Lane,<br />I hate to say this, but I know the history of those bears. They were the cubs of a man-killing grizzly sow, and they ate on the remains of a man she killed (although she mauled three different humans that night in clearly predatory attacks on humans). The choice is to kill these young grizzlies or try to use them in educational programming. I still don't agree with the decision to let these bears live in captivity because we are not honest about why they are there.Cat Urbigkithttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12649103651692682453noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8732486.post-55608562219000583592012-08-06T09:56:36.414-07:002012-08-06T09:56:36.414-07:00Our two grizzlies at the N. C. Zoo are both proble...Our two grizzlies at the N. C. Zoo are both problem bears from the Yellowstone ecosystem that had gotten their 3rd strikes(camp raiders? Garbage eaters? People or livestock attackers? I'm not sure which) and it was either euthanasia or any available zoo--luckily(though I'm sure some might disagree with that view) they got taken in here. They don't have their freedom(which IS huge, of course), but how bizarre--before humans were their deadly enemies(one of our grizzlies still has buckshot in his rump), and now a team of human servants attends to their every need--instead of chasing them away from food, large amounts of all manner of delectables are served to them every day! You gotta wonder what these bears think of such a confusing about-face in human behaviour!....L.B.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8732486.post-27648545908399563792012-08-05T18:14:14.090-07:002012-08-05T18:14:14.090-07:00Thanks Jenny and Steve. I really wanted to write s...Thanks Jenny and Steve. I really wanted to write something about this experience, but to put the dead bear into perspective with its role, and our role, in this ecosystem.Cat Urbigkithttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12649103651692682453noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8732486.post-46717029986887800462012-08-05T11:11:39.948-07:002012-08-05T11:11:39.948-07:00Like Cat, I agree that bear spray is more effectiv...Like Cat, I agree that bear spray is more effective than firearms -- there's even a peer-reviewed scientific study to that effect.Brodienoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8732486.post-56903470604312581692012-08-05T09:29:53.520-07:002012-08-05T09:29:53.520-07:00Great piece, Cat- serious and fascinating state of...Great piece, Cat- serious and fascinating state of the species, & moving too.Steve Bodiohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14434597061701369867noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8732486.post-4163984462742781532012-08-05T09:15:24.332-07:002012-08-05T09:15:24.332-07:00Interesting (and well written).
Thank you.Interesting (and well written).<br />Thank you.Jenny Glenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04606055794620433163noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8732486.post-53731788451517048152012-08-04T20:07:07.473-07:002012-08-04T20:07:07.473-07:00Peter, perhaps that's best left for a detailed...Peter, perhaps that's best left for a detailed post at a later date, but pepper spray is very effective at stopping a charging bear long enough for you to escape. I think it's highly effective and highly recommended.Cat Urbigkithttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12649103651692682453noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8732486.post-5771063070907123942012-08-04T19:48:19.328-07:002012-08-04T19:48:19.328-07:00How effective is bear spray? I've heard confl...How effective is bear spray? I've heard conflicting things.Peterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04266094188872421777noreply@blogger.com