Bear management: Karelian Bear-Dogs

Nuisance bears are usually killed. After spending a summer with grizzly bears and what would be termed a nuisance black bear (if it were an urban setting) I learned about non-lethal ways of wildlife management using bear-dogs.

The author of this video has given presentations in many venues in several countries in the world, including the 9th World Wilderness Congress. To arrange a public speaking engagement for your convention, trade meeting, civic group, business function, or high-school or university, please see www.zygofo.org.

Category:

Entertainment

Tags:

• Karelian Bear-Dogs
• wilderness
• natural resource management
• fish and game
• wildlife
• bears
• protecting children

[megbulb]

why guns

[bgwrkr]

"why guns"? Good question.

The rifles are typically loaded with 2 different kinds of rounds; one is called

'bird-shot" or "pepper-shot", which releases a spray of tiny round pellets which hit the dense fur of the bear and are stopped there. They do not_ break skin but do cause a surprise stinging sensation.

[bgwrkr]

I have been shot with this kind of round before (in an entirely different situation). It shocked the @$!%@%! out of me and hurt, but didn't break my own skin. And I don't_ have the dense fur like a bear does to cushion the blow.

The 2nd kind of round are "cracker" shells and there are two different types used; bottle rockets or firecrackers. They also are meant to have the bear associate the human experience as unpleasant, choosing instead to stay away from people's environs.

[bgwrkr]

All in all, I much prefer to have bears stay alive versus the of killing them. I also prefer KBD's to the economic infeasibility of having Park Rangers/Police/Fish and Wildlife officers/hired-hand pest-control types chase away the same bear again and again over the course of many years.

[bgwrkr]

Nothing like having a retired city-neighbor who recently purchased a seasonal vacation home in bear country who deliberately leaves goodies out to attract the bears. "Isn't this wonderful" they croon to visiting friends, proudly demonstrating their connection to wild America.

[bgwrkr]

Then they leave, and year-round residents have to cope with bear break-ins, destruction, and mayhem as the fed-bears look for the easy, human-provided meal.

There is a saying; a fed bear is a dead bear.

In an area that has the services of a Karelian Bear Dog team, this dictum holds no water.

Thank you for taking the time to post a cogent question.

[WTFOVER1901]

And what breed of dog can be used LEGALLY to run off (and kill, if necessary) the coyotes that infest the Chicago area and its suburbs?

I don't run in the Cook County Forest Preserve killing my dinner. So I don't want g--damn coyotes hunting in my backyard.

[CurttheRed2]

This is great!

[baldurus1]

Nice to see these amazing dogs outside of Finland, just don't mix them with Laikas or other rifraf.

[RalphCQ]

@bgwrkr heh I have a dog named bear, and I actually have shouted that at him before.

[bgwrkr]

I like that shout, too. It is a nice sound bite.