MovieChat Forums > Backcountry (2015) Discussion > I've worked with bears. . .

I've worked with bears. . .

posted 9 years ago by lukieledoux
51 replies | jump to latest

And I can personally say that this was very realistic and incredibly terrifying. I've been stalked by bears and I've seen victims of attacks. This movie isn't very far off at all.

[–] nihilizm 9 years ago

except for the stupid people who never thought to take some sort of protection - as far as im concerned if your in the wild with nothing but your feet to run with - your a tool

and ignoran tool at that and you deserve to be bear food

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[–] Practice 8 years ago

I couldn't agree with you more. Always prepare for the worst.

[–] jonnybrett14 8 years ago

Although I agree that one should always be prepared in bear country, I think your statement is a bit harsh and mean-spirited.

No innocent human "deserves to be bear food".

Also, it is worth noting that the place this gal was attacked and killed had NEVER had a single bear attack, EVER. And there are a LOT of wild black bears there.

I talked to one of the wardens at this park and he said it was so bizarre because NOTHING like that had ever happened in all the years this park has had visitors. In other words, I don't think it's fair to call people "stupid" for not preparing for something that is more rare than getting hit by lighting.

Suppose you are driving home from work in a storm. You get home, and you run from your car to your house, but before you get there, you are struck and killed by lightning. Does this make you "stupid" for not having some sort of lightning protective suit on your body?

It is good to prepare for sure, but life is full of risks no matter how prepared you are. And the risk of being killed by a black bear is less than getting hit by lightning, yet I know of NOBODY who prepares for a lightning strike.

Having said this, I do prepare for bear attacks because it's not that hard to do. But to call someone "stupid" for not preparing for something so rare is akin to calling someone "stupid" for driving home from work in a storm.

I do understand your point though.

[–] kmd11 8 years ago

The point is that there is not reason NOT to be prepared. You might not get syphallis having sex with a hooker, but you should probably use a condom anyway...same thing.

[–] jonnybrett14 8 years ago

I suspect that the odds of getting some disease from unprotected sex with a hooker are much greater than being attacked by a black bear in the woods. But I do understand your point, and I agree that it's easy enough to prepare for a possible bear attack, "that there is not reason NOT to be prepared".

However, being so rare, I also understand why so many folks DON'T prepare, in the same way they don't prepare to be struck by lightning.

[–] IndigoV 8 years ago

Agreed. This was rude and harsh.

"I don't think it's fair to call people "stupid" for not preparing for something that is more rare than getting hit by lighting."

^Exactly

[–] Augustus_Octavian 7 years ago

No innocent human "deserves to be bear food"

They aren't innocent.

[–] Barbourino 7 years ago

I think the odds of getting hit by lightning are much higher than running into a bear while camping (especially in the deep woods). In other words, the chances of encountering a bear would be much higher.

[–] tremblaylm 7 years ago

Deleted post

[–] Barbourino 7 years ago

No, it does not. "High odds" means something is unlikely (less probability), while "low odds" means something is likely. That's what it's supposed to mean anyway, but many people get the two confused. Look it up if you want.

[–] tremblaylm 7 years ago

You are so right... To my defense, English isn't my first language... 😂

[–] stephenmonachello 8 years ago

Well in all these films, people are always dumb. They never take a map, follow water, or prepared. There is also a guy, who knows a short cut off the path etc. as well.

http://www.imdb.com/name/nm2604794/

[–] kmd11 8 years ago

Based on your tenuous grasp of English, you should not call anyone stupid.

[–] Doc_Cochran 8 years ago

I hike trails with bears and I carry an elephant gun, only had to use it once. Let me tell ya you put that in a bear and it aint too fast anymore.

[–] 8 years ago

[deleted]

[–] wpglory 8 years ago

Backpackers = Meals on Heels

[–] drrclavan 7 years ago

im -> I'm
if your in the wild -> if you're in the wild
your a tool -> you're a tool
ignoran -> ignorant

[–] Monkey Bastard 7 years ago

the stupid people who never thought to take some sort of protection

Also realistic. Because people are idiots.

[–] kustom135 8 years ago

Black bears don't feed on people.

[–] jonnybrett14 8 years ago

On rare occasions they do. There are several incidents of black bears preying on people in some of the provincial parks I visit. E.g. Missinaibi Provincial Park and Algonquin Provincial Park have both had freak black bear attacks upon humans. It's rare, but it can and does happen. Every once in a while a big male black bear will seek out a human for food.

[–] snowleopard 8 years ago

Extremely, extremely rare. In fact, in the last 115 years, just 61 people have been killed by bears in all of North America. One every two years.

By comparison, every two years on average about 61 people are killed by lightning, making it sixty times more likely you'll die this way.

32 people in the United States were killed by dogs in 2014 alone.

About 50 people are killed each year in the US by wasps, hornets or bees.

So yes, it happens. But it's nothing to really be fearful of. And if you take caution and are prepared when heading into the wilderness, the odds are immeasurably rare that you'll meet your fate that way. You're probably more likely to be killed in a car accident driving to the trail head than killed by a bear.

[–] jonnybrett14 8 years ago

Snowleopard, you are correct. It is VERY rare. I don't think anybody was suggesting that it's common. Just pointing out that it DOES happen. And when it does happen, it is not only sad, but intriguing enough to make movies, even though they are typically not consistent with the actual facts.

[–] Practice 8 years ago

It's extremely rare for something to happen to your house, yet everyone pays a lot of money for insurance.

[–] owlfy 8 years ago

In fact, in the last 115 years, just 61 people have been killed by bears in all of North America. One every two years.

More than 7 people have been killed in North America in 2014-2015 by bear attacks alone. That's just the ones that have been reported. I'm sure others have died but their bodies have yet to be discovered.

[–] sabar-1 8 years ago

There are different bear types. It's unusual for a black bear to attack. There is usually a reason for any bear to attack - usually a mama protecting cubs, which can be avoided if people know what they are doing. Those are usually grizzlies. It's a chance you take and you should be prepared - remember that you are in their home.

🐈 Rachel

[–] chas437 8 years ago

When it comes to Black Bear (Ursus americannus), much depends on the geographical region. Most Black Bear in the lower 48 are on the small side, and attacks are very rare and injuries are be fairly mild. In fact, Black Bear in the East and South are rarely bigger than a large dog.

Black Bear in Alaska and Northern Canada are a different matter. They are much larger on average and more territorially aggressive. In fact, bush guides in Alaska fear Black Bears more than the enormous Brown/Grizzly bears. Black Bear attacks are more common.

The thing about bears, their behavior is unpredictable. That's even true of captive, trained bears. Black Bear can be assumed to be timid, even avoiding human contact altogether, but on rare occasions, when something sets them off, they can tear a human to shreds in a matter of seconds.

[–] shaduby 8 years ago

Black bears in New Jersey are often upwards to 300lbs or more.
My friend lives in Vernon and sees them often - no lightweights here...
A black bear just killed someone hiking in north jersey a few months ago..

[–] chas437 8 years ago

I read about that bear attack in NJ. Crazy. Goes to show how unpredictable bear behavior is.

I live in New Mexico, and we have black bear that occasionally get as big as 300 pounds. My point was that Alaskan and northern Canadian black bears are a different sub species, and they are much larger on average than those in the lower 48.

[–] shaduby 8 years ago

[–] rogun-35750 8 years ago

Extremely, extremely rare. In fact, in the last 115 years, just 61 people have been killed by bears in all of North America. One every two years.

While I'm sure that's all true, I believe deaths from wild animal attacks are extremely rare for all wild animals in North America.

[–] scarylibrary 8 years ago

But you've got to admit, being stalked and torn apart and eaten by a bear is much more horrifying than a swift strike of lightning, bee stings, or even a dog attack.

"Searchers after horror haunt strange, far places." H.P. Lovecraft

[–] Jigsaw737 8 years ago

Extremely, extremely rare. In fact, in the last 115 years, just 61 people have been killed by bears in all of North America. One every two years.

By comparison, every two years on average about 61 people are killed by lightning, making it sixty times more likely you'll die this way.

32 people in the United States were killed by dogs in 2014 alone.

About 50 people are killed each year in the US by wasps, hornets or bees.

So yes, it happens. But it's nothing to really be fearful of. And if you take caution and are prepared when heading into the wilderness, the odds are immeasurably rare that you'll meet your fate that way. You're probably more likely to be killed in a car accident driving to the trail head than killed by a bear.

Make sure you tell the bear those interesting facts when he singles you out to raise the numbers by one. Statistics are a small consolation when you end up being that one victim in two years. Someone has got to be the winner in the lottery, right? ;)

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[–] kustom135 8 years ago

"freak black bear attacks"

... are not black bears feeding on people.

[–] chas437 8 years ago

Actually, yes they do. Its quite rare, but there are incidents of Black Bears cracking human skulls in their jaws, as a prelude to feeding on them.

Surprisingly Brown or Grizzly Bears will brutally maul a human, but they haven't been known to eat humans.

[–] WatchAnythingOnce 8 years ago

Timothy Treadwell and Amie Huguenard were killed and eaten by brown/Grizzly bears.

[–] chas437 8 years ago

Yes. I'm well aware of that story. Grizzly/Brown Bears have devoured humans, but from my reading of their natural history, they don't see humans as prey items under normal circumstances the way Black Bears can.

Tim Treadwell's interactions with bears was far from normal human interactions. I'd say he got what he deserved. He was eaten by a bear that was late to hibernate and desperate for food. It was also a bear that he didn't know.

I do feel sorry for the girl, and the bears who had to be murdered.

[–] rgibson-20 8 years ago

"murdered"

I don't think that word means what you think it means.

[–] Doc_Cochran 8 years ago

They do on rare occasions, just this past fall a little indian boy made a nice snack for a black bear. He went to rutgers not far from my house

[–] marx-18213 8 years ago

A scoutmaster was pulled into a cave in NJ by a black bear. Luckily he survived with help from the scouts. He got bit and mauled but he's OK.

[–] lukieledoux 8 years ago

Except they do. And besides, nothing is stopping them.

[–] jriley555 (7048) 6 years ago

this movie is based upon a true story of a black bear attack

[–] jl201 8 years ago

And I can personally say that this was very realistic and incredibly terrifying. I've been stalked by bears and I've seen victims of attacks. This movie isn't very far off at all.

That's why bears need to be hunted. Its so gratifying hunting that thing down with a pack of bear hunting dogs.

[–] wiggityp 8 years ago

That is totally ridiculous. Humans don't NEED to hunt anything. Certainly not bears. You sound like a pathetically weak person if you enjoy hunting down a bear with a pack of dogs. Why don't you go the whole 9 yards and just start butchering children at the park. You can chase them down with your bear dogs too. Sounds like that might be up your alley. Probably a lot easier for you to gratify yourself that way than with bears as children can't run nearly as fast.

I don't know if you ever saw the movie Ghostdog? But there is a scene in it where Forrest Whittaker's character crosses paths with two black bear hunters who are bragging about the bear they just "hunted" and killed with guns. He promptly executes them. I truly hope that happens to you one day. Except hopefully Ghostdog will get you before you get your sick twisted rocks off by killing a bear.

Or maybe I'll find you one day and put my own teeth to your pitiful flesh...

[–] wendyrobson-18505 8 years ago

Well said! Why anyone would want to hunt and kill any animal is beyond me. Pathetic weak and cowardly and trying to make up for it by killing with weapons or other animals. I hope you get eaten.

[–] Augustus_Octavian 7 years ago

For food? There are parts of America where the people literally supplement their diet with "free" food.

[–] wendyrobson-18505 7 years ago

Hunting for food is one thing, it's fairer than factory farming after all. Hunting with dogs for the pleasure of killing is a whole different ball game.

[–] Augustus_Octavian 7 years ago

I wouldn't be so quick to judge if I myself ate (conventionally sourced) meat.

[–] Augustus_Octavian 7 years ago

Blank test post.

[–] wendyrobson-18505 7 years ago

Where was anyone judged for eating meat?

[–] silverr8c 7 years ago

I will shoot down a bear, under certain circumstances.

If a bear breaks into my house, steals my beer, sits in my easy chair, grabs my TV remote and changes the channel I will shoot him dead. If he stays in the woods and I stay in my house I won't bother him.

The most important thing is sincerity. If you can fake that you've got it made.
I want to win the Nobel Peace Prize so bad that I would kill for it
If boxing is a manly sport why do they fight for a purse?

[–] sugar-23080 7 years ago

Did you just try to take the moral high ground, all the while wishing death on another human being, and threatening to kill them? Seriously?