30 December 2014

Turtles and Tigers and Bears, Oh My: Top Animal Stories of 2014

Alaskan animals, that is...

Excerpt: 

Animals often stand as a symbol of Alaska, and in 2014, they were the stars of many stories. 
There were wildlife rarities, adorable pups and heartbreaking tales as human and beast attempted to co-exist on the Last Frontier. 

Some stories pulled at readers' heartstrings, like the pair of black bear cubs captured on camera prancing around Anchorage's Goose Lake with their mother the day before she was euthanized by the Alaska Department of Fish and Game.

Other stories captured unusual wildlife moments -- like the Katmai grizzly sow who adopted an orphaned cub and was dubbed a "supermom."

 
 #3 Photos: Black bear family's last afternoon
A black bear sow and her cubs frolicked in Anchorage's Goose Lake and its environs Thursday afternoon, just hours before the mother, who was routinely coming into contact with humans, was shot dead by the Alaska Department of Fish and Game as a protective measure.
 
Go here to see the whole article.

6 comments:

Old NFO said...

Those are sad, but it would have been sadder still to find she'd killed someone...

PioneerPreppy said...

I don't know though there have been many times when dealing with other people I have lamented the lack of other top end predators who paid no attention to human laws. In more than a few cases a nice bear or lion attack would have been beneficial at culling some of the stupidity I see around me.

Chickenmom said...

And if anyone was stupid enough to try and pet one of those cute cubs, it would have have been their very last day on earth. Dangerous wild animals. Period.

Rev. Paul said...

NFO - couldn't agree more. She was a definite danger, and had lost her fear of humans.

Preppy - I understand the sentiment, but ... well, you know.

Chickenmom - most Alaskans know better, but recent arrivals - and TOURISTS - think it's just like Winnie the Pooh or a Disney film. Sigh ...

Rumbear said...

Consistency is the hob goblin of little minds. Now if the bureaucrats could apply this logic in others areas where the common citizens are threatened we might be on to something. Instead we are told to be tolerant....

Rev. Paul said...

Rumbear - but they're so much smarter than we are, don'tcha know.

Hrmph.