(Excerpts published 7/31/02)
written by Frank Carbone Jr.
Escalating attacks on humans by different types of predators
The latest news reports out of Northern New Jersey is that the Black Bear population, steadily increasing, is getting out of control. Recent reports are saying that there have been 33 home break-ins and 9 dog attacks by Black Bear. It wasn’t clear whether the dogs were leashed, penned or running loose. There appears to be nothing reported about any attacks on humans this year. But last year a young boy was injured when his father allowed the young boy to feed the bear a bagel. It’s entirely possible that there have been other break-ins by bear that have gone unreported.
It should be noted that while there isn’t a current Black Bear Season in New Jersey and that there isn’t any planned for the near future. The anti-hunting community and certain public servants in the New Jersey Legislature appear to be making sure that a season for bear hunting doesn’t happen anytime soon. That is until their home is raided by a hungry and fearless bear or someone is injured or killed.
I’m not hearing of any similar reports of bear break-ins in NYS. Even though the bear population is also increasing in NYS and they can easily cross back and forth across the borders. But the only difference here in NYS is that we’ve got a bear hunting season. So that can keep the numbers down and also teach the bears that its not safe to be around humans. But with an ever increasing loss of natural habitat for the bears due to human encroachment -- we can expect more conflicts with wildlife in the future.
A friend of mine has a brother who lives in Northern New Jersey and one night, last year, he heard a noise in his back yard. He turned on the flood lights and went out to investigate. As he approached his pet rabbit’s hutch a large Black Bear stood and he could plainly see his pet rabbit in it’s mouth. The bear had very easily broken into the rabbit hutch and removed the pet rabbit that turned into a quick meal.
The Black Bear population has been steadily increasing while the Black Bear’s only predator -- hunters -- is steadily decreasing, possibly at the same rate. The Black Bear’s only nemesis that I know of is man or automobiles driven by man.
Bears are attracted to homes because they can get tasty handouts there. Bird feeders, garbage cans, dumpsters, folks who feed bears (illegal in some states) and the fact that the population is increasing due to a decrease in hunters and a decrease in available habitat and the fact that many homes are being built within the normal range and habitat of the bear.
Some bear are even hibernating over the winter within sight of homes, under decks and porches.
And some words of caution -- don’t ever get between a mother bear and her cubs.
If you’re on the internet and would like to read a story that I wrote back on 2/28/01 -- “Black Bear In The House” -- click on http://www.outdoorliaisons.com/blackbear.htm and on 7/18/01 --
“The Most Dangerous Predator Known To Man” -- click on http://www.outdoorliaisons.com/dangerouspred.htm
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Then we have the different assaults on humans by those predators that we cannot see. Viruses, bacterias, and other parasitic creatures that affect our heath and can lead to our death. Recently more than 18 million pounds of beef were recalled nationally due to contamination of e-coli bacteria. How much gets through without being detected or recalled is anyone’s guess. Who is making sure that we are getting the best and safest food for our families?
Then comes the bacterias that cause Lyme desease and other deadly and debilitating diseases,
known and unknown, through the bite of a tick or other insects. The West Nile Virus that has caused the deaths of more than a dozen folks in the New York City area. Trying to control the mosquito that carries the West Nile Virus may be putting folks at a greater risk since insecticides that are used to kill the mosquito may also cause cancer in humans.
Mad Cow Disease or its relative Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) has now gotten into the wild deer and Elk populations of several mid-western states. Visit the Outdoor Press Room at www.outdoorpressroom.com for more info about what has been happening throughout the country on CWD. New York State has now stopped the importation of all deer and elk into NYS. Will this stop the spread of CWD into our state? It’s anyone’s guess at this point. One of the problems in detecting this disease is the fact that it takes so long for the test results and there are a limited number of labs who can test for it.
Some states are requiring tests before deer and elk can be consumed. And there were three deaths last year out west that are believed to have been caused by CWD.
CWD is not caused by a virus or even a bacteria. It is caused by wild protein called a prion that causes spongiform encephalopathy or holes in the brain of the creature that contracts the disease. The animal then refuses food and water and gradually wastes away. The prion cannot be destroyed by conventional sterilization methods but must be incinerated to about 1600 degress.
Then comes those human predators who prey on other humans, adults and children. As we have seen in the news recently, again and again, most have been very young children who have been abducted from their own homes or yards by human predators who I would hesitate to call animals -- most animals don’t even act this way. We all know that many before them have been abducted and killed and many crimes still go unsolved. Prevention by parents and caregivers is a big deterrent to these types of acts. But also swift and intelligent police work is essential. Children should not be out of site of any parent or caregiver for any length of time.
And then we have parasites in the form of Worldcom, Enron and other big companies who manage to suck the blood out of employees, investors and folks who make just barely enough money to exist while the CEO and other corporate chiefs live in luxury in muti-million dollar houses, planes and boats. Even if they are prosecuted, convicted and sent to prison they generally spend time in a country club setting. The public servants in congress and the senate who protect these human parasites should spend time with them for obstruction of justice and enabling these parasites.
I often wonder why these criminals get away with these high crimes against innocent people -- robbing them of a lifetime of savings and investments and doing very little hard time if any. While at the same time individuals who may smoke a dried plant called hemp, weed or marijuana gets the book thrown at them and sent to prison. Now what is wrong with this picture? The same lawmakers who make the laws to punish the low level lawbreakers or victimless crimes are sometime responsible for enabling the high level criminals who fleece innocent Americans and then do nothing to punish those individuals and may even pardon them.
Since last September 11th we have all seen what can happen when terrorists do things that can be seen, felt and measured. And we’ve all been warned repeatedly, by our government, about bio-terrorism and what to expect from our enemies. But what I’d really like to know if some of the maladies and other diseases that many people experience -- at epidemic levels -- could possibly be created by bio-terrorism.
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Outdoor Liaisons appears every other week in the Times - Frank can be reached at the Times or email forthebirds39@earthlink.net or 845-562-0941.