| A Trip to the Katmai Grizzlies and More with Elston and Jackline Hill July 31 to August 21, 2009 |
The trip begins on the Kenai Peninsula
This is an account of our trip to Katmai National Park to see the world's highest density grizzly bear population. Our trip also
included a week on the Kenai Peninsula and visits to Kodiak and Rasepberry Island. To see the whole trip, click the first link
and then click the first link at the bottom of each page.
included a week on the Kenai Peninsula and visits to Kodiak and Rasepberry Island. To see the whole trip, click the first link
and then click the first link at the bottom of each page.
The Otters and Puffins of Kodiak Island
Katmai Grizzlies
Raspberry Island
DID YOU KNOW?
You are 12 times more likely to die of a bee sting than a bear attack (120 times more likely compared to a black
bear)
You are 10 times more likely to die from a dog attack than a bear attack (45 times more likely compared to a black
bear attack)
1 person out of 16,000 commits murder but only 1 grizzly bear out of 50,000 ever kills someone and only 1 black
bear out of one million does. So people are much more dangerous than bears! Fear people and respect bears.
There are about 750,000 black bears in North America and on average there is less than one black bear killing
per year.
For each person killed by a black bear attack there are 13 people killed by snakes, 17 by spiders, 45 by dogs, 120
by bees, 150 by tornadoes, 374 by lightning, and 60,000 by humans.
In my humble opinion, the image of the dangerous bear exists for macho hunters who need the myth to enhance
their self-image of the brave hunter. On the Kodiak Islands, bears are hunted legally. Consequently it is almost
impossible to see a bear for more than a fleeting moment as they run at the sight of a human. My experience in
the wilderness is that when I encounter a bear, I have less than a 30% chance of getting my camera out to get
even the most fleeting picture. Fortunately, the bears at Katmai are somewhat habituated to humans and are not
hunted.
Always stay out of a bear's path. Never run from a bear as that will make you seem like prey.
You are 12 times more likely to die of a bee sting than a bear attack (120 times more likely compared to a black
bear)
You are 10 times more likely to die from a dog attack than a bear attack (45 times more likely compared to a black
bear attack)
1 person out of 16,000 commits murder but only 1 grizzly bear out of 50,000 ever kills someone and only 1 black
bear out of one million does. So people are much more dangerous than bears! Fear people and respect bears.
There are about 750,000 black bears in North America and on average there is less than one black bear killing
per year.
For each person killed by a black bear attack there are 13 people killed by snakes, 17 by spiders, 45 by dogs, 120
by bees, 150 by tornadoes, 374 by lightning, and 60,000 by humans.
In my humble opinion, the image of the dangerous bear exists for macho hunters who need the myth to enhance
their self-image of the brave hunter. On the Kodiak Islands, bears are hunted legally. Consequently it is almost
impossible to see a bear for more than a fleeting moment as they run at the sight of a human. My experience in
the wilderness is that when I encounter a bear, I have less than a 30% chance of getting my camera out to get
even the most fleeting picture. Fortunately, the bears at Katmai are somewhat habituated to humans and are not
hunted.
Always stay out of a bear's path. Never run from a bear as that will make you seem like prey.
