buckee Posted August 20, 2009 Report Share Posted August 20, 2009 Bears Ate Woman Who Fed Them A 74-year-old woman who was known for leaving food outside her home for bears, despite several warnings that it was illegal and dangerous to do so, was killed by one of the animals, an autopsy confirmed. Donna Munson had been partially eaten by one or more bears when her body was found outside her home in Ouray County, in southwestern Colorado, but state wildlife officials couldn't immediately confirm what caused her death, the Associated Press reported County Sheriff Dominic Mattivi said that an autopsy showed Munson had scratches and maul marks consistent with being attacked by a bear. She had no signs of heart damage, ruling out the possibility that she died of a heart attack before being attacked, according to published reports. State wildlife officers had received ''numerous'' complaints during the past decade that Munson was feeding bears. But she never was ticketed, partly because wooded hills around her property made it hard to gather evidence to prove it, said division spokesman Tyler Baskfield. ''It's a well-known fact that people were feeding (bears) at this residence,'' Baskfield said. A letter from the Division of Wildlife to Munson dated April 7, 2008, said officers talked with her at least three times between July 22, 2004 and Sept. 13, 2007, about Colorado laws that prohibit placing feed out for bears. Baskfield said Munson started ignoring wildlife officers' calls and stopped letting them on her property. Views from neighbors' homes were obscured by the foliage. If a bear did kill Munson, authorities aren't sure whether it’s still roaming the neighborhood. Sheriff's deputies investigating Munson's death shot a 250-pound bear that aggressively approached them, and wildlife officers killed a 394-pound bear. A necropsy showed that the larger bear appeared to have been feeding on a human, but Mattivi said that he's asked officials at the University of Wyoming to confirm that. It's not known if that bear killed Munson. Witnesses have spotted up to 14 bears at a time around Munson's property over the years, wildlife officials said. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Orion_70 Posted August 20, 2009 Report Share Posted August 20, 2009 Sorry for her family, but they're wild animals, don't be an idiot. It's like people feeding alligators here.. It's just a matter of time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trigger Posted August 20, 2009 Report Share Posted August 20, 2009 Bears are definately not something to fool around with especially at your home. As cute and snuggly as they look I've seen many fights between bears their speed, power and strength is just phenominal. Definately something not to mess around with especially with how aggresive they are towards protecting their food or cubs! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fly Posted August 20, 2009 Report Share Posted August 20, 2009 A lot of people don't think of black bears as being that dangerous. That misconception is a costly one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Texan_Til_I_Die Posted August 20, 2009 Report Share Posted August 20, 2009 Yep, no matter how many rules, regulations or laws you pass - you can't fix stupid. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wtnhunt Posted August 20, 2009 Report Share Posted August 20, 2009 Man that really is a shame the woman lost her life as a result of her lack of respect for these animals. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Illinois59 Posted August 20, 2009 Report Share Posted August 20, 2009 When humans treat wild animals as pets they put themselves, their neighbors and the animals in harms way. It's a shame for all involved. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GWSmith Posted August 20, 2009 Report Share Posted August 20, 2009 Yep, no matter how many rules, regulations or laws you pass - you can't fix stupid. So True...Warnings dont stop people from being Stupid either. Having lived in Florida before I know exactly what Orion70 is saying as the truth. So many people feed Alligators down there then wonder why their pets or family members end up on a small island being gaurded by the 10footer of the lake! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JimT Posted August 20, 2009 Report Share Posted August 20, 2009 Man that really is a shame the woman lost her life as a result of her lack of respect for these animals. You nailed it. So many people are of the Disney crowd. Bears are all like Pooh. Not even close. If a bear that was raised since birth by humans can turn, just imagine what little it could take for a wild one to. People that live with the bears, feed the bears, etc. are just a stat in the making. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sluggunner Posted August 20, 2009 Report Share Posted August 20, 2009 She wont be the last. Unfortunately all too many people do not understand and respect wildlife. Now her poor family has to grieve because she wanted to be selfish and continue to tempt fate and do what people told her was a dangerous activity and not care about the consequences. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adjam5 Posted August 20, 2009 Report Share Posted August 20, 2009 Wild animals cannot be reasoned with. What a tragedy that could have been avoided. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shaun_300 Posted August 20, 2009 Report Share Posted August 20, 2009 That is horrible, gotta say though she was just asking for trouble by doing what she was doing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doe-ee Posted August 20, 2009 Report Share Posted August 20, 2009 i gotta agree with everyone here. She won't be remembered for her "kindness" to the bears but only as that "silly" woman who didn't respect them or herself. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevebeilgard Posted August 21, 2009 Report Share Posted August 21, 2009 i don't feel for her at all. she wanted to feed the bears, and she fed the bears. the bears only did what bears do. good for them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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