This story in the Tooele (TA will a) Transcript Bulletin brings some perspective on the Utah bear attack.
The same is true in Idaho where there are also wolves.
Bear maulings in the form of grizzly bear reactions and bison gorings change the equation a bit in Wyoming.
The most dangerous large animal by far is the dog.
Dr. Ralph Maughan is professor emeritus of political science at Idaho State University. He was a Western Watersheds Project Board Member off and on for many years, and was also its President for several years. For a long time he produced Ralph Maughan’s Wolf Report. He was a founder of the Greater Yellowstone Coalition. He and Jackie Johnson Maughan wrote three editions of “Hiking Idaho.” He also wrote “Beyond the Tetons” and “Backpacking Wyoming’s Teton and Washakie Wilderness.” He created and is the administrator of The Wildlife News.
Comments
3 responses to “Although unlikely, cougar is biggest threat for animal attack locally — Utah”
Ralph,
Any chance of getting numbers for people injured or killed by domestic livestock, including vehicular collisions?
I don’t have it, but maybe someone could find it on the web.
People are killed every year in Idaho, Utah and Wyoming after hitting livestock on the road. If the person survives, under the archaic open range laws, they will be cited for injuring or killing a cow. . . just another example how most Westerners are second class citizens.
Just like the article states, seeing a cougar in the wild is a rarity. However, I was lucky enough to come across one near Red Lodge in May 2007. Such a beautiful animal!