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Dramatic 911 Call Reveals Bear Attack in Washington St.
- Posted on September 21, 2010 at 8:45am by
Jonathon M. Seidl
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A chilling 911 call frames a bear attack in Washington state. John Chelminiak is recovering after suffering multiple puncture wounds all over his body in the aftermath of the incident near his vacation home in a rural part of the state. His calls for help can be heard on the 911 tape:
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Comments (65)
KewelJewels
Posted on September 21, 2010 at 5:22pmpoor bear…
Report Post »bedowd
Posted on September 21, 2010 at 4:58pmIt is really unfortunate for this to happen. But unfortunate still, are some of the comments placing blame on the victim for living in the “bears” territory. C’mon! You do not have a clue to the circumstances so you really shouldn’t place blame on the victim. I realize that he is a councilmen so he probably can afford to live closer to the city. My family and I on the other hand just recently moved here to Washington State and living in a rural area is all we can afford. Houses here are ridiculously overpriced. And it scares me to death that this could have been one of my children.
Report Post »Jess Owen
Posted on September 21, 2010 at 2:56pmWe have an abundance of black bears here in Washington State. That is why Ted Nugent and Jim Burnworth come and stay at my resort, Ocean Crest Resort, to hunt the “Rug Steaks”. They say it is the best black bear hunting in the lower 48.
Report Post »Damage6
Posted on September 21, 2010 at 2:33pmNot at all surprised that nobody in the media would mention the fact that if you live in BEAR COUNTRY you should own a GUN (sufficiently powerful enough to actually kill a bear) and keep it accessible at all times. Had these people followed that simple precaution we’d likely not even be having this conversation in the first place.
Report Post »ritamweep
Posted on September 21, 2010 at 1:53pmSome do not understand how dangerous animals can be, like the people who try to take pictures with bull elk during rut, in Yellowstone Park. This is for my far left friends. Children who are not instilled with common sense, because they are too sheltered, will not learn the values, from the cycle of life and death. They may not learn to hunt for food (this thins the herd…so they do not starve…) which teaches us to respect, to manage, conserve and preserve habitat.
Report Post »Don’t they make a bear proof garbage can?? Or a garage to put garbage in?
dssr1974
Posted on September 21, 2010 at 1:34pmPrior to the US Age of Liberalism, he would have carried a gun, as the 2nd amendment allows him to do. He probably would have shot the bear when he realized that it was a threat. Too bad it wasn’t in my backyard. My family would be eating bear steaks for dinner.
Report Post »Prospero
Posted on September 21, 2010 at 12:43pmElkaypee writes: “Its a shame they had to kill the bear. After all, they were living in HIS environment.”
Right, the bear had a deed to the land from the central bear authority. Oh, wait, you mean the guy from Venus landed right there where bears roam. Oh, neither of those things?
What manner of brain injury did you sustain as a child?
Hello….hello…..Earth to Elkaypee….every human being is a *natural part of nature*. We are Earthlings, Elkaypee. This is OUR enivroment as much as any other organism that lives here.
Wake up.
Report Post »messenger
Posted on September 22, 2010 at 6:35amWe piped you a tune and you did not dance.
We sang you a dirge and you did not wail.
Wayward children.
Time will tell where wisdome lies.
Report Post »dumpapolitician
Posted on September 21, 2010 at 10:54amdo you have to show the dead bear – while i understand it had to be killed – i don’t like seeing it
Report Post »Buck Bagaw
Posted on September 21, 2010 at 11:29amThe bear wouldn’t pose for pictures while he was alive.
Report Post »dssr1974
Posted on September 21, 2010 at 1:36pmnot necessary, really, to show the dead animal… but then again, death IS a part of life, and denying this is to teach ourselves and our children to fear death.
Report Post »dumpapolitician
Posted on September 21, 2010 at 10:53amAdd your comments
Report Post »Okpulot Taha
Posted on September 21, 2010 at 10:34amThis bear did not attack. This bear simply marked his territory. Had this bear attacked, this stringless yo-yo city slicker man would be dead in seconds and his wife looking for his head. While I do not want others injured, this ignorant man received what he earned, a whop upside his head for treading on this bear’s territory.
This bear should not have been killed rather this man should have been tossed in jail for felony stupidity. This man committed one of the most cruel crimes; causing the unwarranted death of one of Mother Nature’s own. This bear’s death is morally repugnant.
Okpulot Taha
Report Post »Choctaw Nation
Buck Bagaw
Posted on September 21, 2010 at 11:25amYou been into the wild mushrooms again???
Report Post »IX-XI
Posted on September 21, 2010 at 12:09pmYep, so stay in your Choctaw Nation habitat there, TAHA. Go outside your territory, nobody can be responsible for what happens.
News flash: that house on Lake Wenatchee was there long before the bear decided to move in. It is a danger when you live out there, that needs to be taken seriously. Bear hunting has been on the decline for decades, and my family farm in NE Washington is now regularly ranged by Bears, Cougars, Moose and Elk. Any of which will kill you if you’re not lucky. This family has worked this farm for four generations. These critters move in on our territory, and we’re supposed to just live with it?
Nope. The .50 Casul was invented for rural farmers with bear problems. Bambi and Baloo don’t talk, but they are mighty tasty with the right spices and marinade.
Report Post »Okpulot Taha
Posted on September 21, 2010 at 12:16pmIX-XI decides to lie to readers, “News flash: that house on Lake Wenatchee was there long before the bear decided to move in.”
Yes, I am sure this home was built ten-thousand years or more back. Probably built by my ancestors.
Okpulot Taha
Report Post »Choctaw Nation
mtnclimberjim
Posted on September 21, 2010 at 1:18pmAnother stupid lib. poor bear, poor bear Get over it Jackass!
Report Post »mtnclimberjim
Posted on September 21, 2010 at 1:33pmWhat’s with this choctaw nation crap. It’s one nation under God you jackass! Time for a treaty burning party and disband the reservations. Just a bunch of moochers.
Report Post »messenger
Posted on September 21, 2010 at 11:07pmOkpulot Taha:
Some believe in spirit, others soul, but many more do not comprehend the breath of life contained within the so-called “lesser beings”.
The result is disharmony with everything in nature.
Animals, plants and insects are thought to be expendable creatures without purpose.
Mocking a reverence for nature is done in lieu of exposing one’s own impotence and vulnerability when confronting something far more powerful than manmade weapons.
Fearlessness.
We are all bold and courageous unless and until confronted by a larger beast with clearsighted intent.
More cunning and shrewd than the lowliest among us (at least prior to falling sleep), we never see the darkness shield the black widow or brown recluse.
How does one see the breath of a tree through studying the pores in its leaves?
I, too, will be mocked, but in good company, my friend.
Wild mushrooms?
Better than the poisonous spores being snorted by the manly men of machismo.
Here we go.
Report Post »Okpulot Taha
Posted on September 22, 2010 at 12:30amMESSENGER writes intelligently, “Some believe in spirit, others soul, but many more do not comprehend the breath of life contained within the so-called ‘lesser beings’.”
Yes, absolutely. There is no conflict between being a conservative and protecting our environment. Should we continue destroying our environment, which is all living things and our Earth, if we continue down this destructive path, humans will become extinct as will most life.
An example of this is recent extreme concern about loss of honeybees. Without honeybees, a good third or more of people will simply starve to death. Another example is loss of rain forest is slowly smothering us to death by increasing carbon dioxide levels.
We cannot continue to destroy Mother Nature and survive. This type of destruction is literally suicide.
MESSENGER adds, “Mocking a reverence for nature is done in lieu of exposing one’s own impotence and vulnerability when confronting something far more powerful than manmade weapons.”
I agree, strongly agree. I view those boys who kill animals from a distance with powerful firearms, I view those boys as sissies who are threatened by their own lack of masculinity. If I am to be impressed, those boys can take on animals as did my ancestors, bare hands, maybe a knife, a handmade bow; up close and personal.
A display of cowardice is labeling “hunting” a sport. This is not a sport, this is boys getting off on killing and this is truly what hunting is; psychotic killing. There is no need to hunt to feed a family, this is simply a lie. Boys hunt because they want to kill something. This is disturbing.
A preemptive strike here, my ancestors hunted and killed animals. Buffalo is an example. This was truly a matter of survival. A significant difference is my ancestors made use of every single bit of a killed buffalo, nothing was wasted. Another important difference is my ancestors displayed reverence for buffalo, for all living things. My peoples never took more than what is needed.
MESSENGER notes the mighty little, “More cunning and shrewd than the lowliest among us (at least prior to falling sleep), we never see the darkness shield the black widow or brown recluse.”
Nor the rattlesnake, nor the water moccasin lying in dark waters. Our rural Oklahoma farm was literally surrounded by zillions of deadly snakes. We learned to respect those snakes. Those who did not display a fearful respect for poisonous snakes, sometimes died from snake bite. A few, only a few of my childhood friends died from snake bite. I had some very close calls. We never killed those snakes, though, we just stayed out of their way.
MESSENGER quotes another, “Wild mushrooms?”
MESSENGER replies, “Better than the poisonous spores being snorted by the manly men of machismo.”
Some men like eating bear testicles. Probably men who truly need Viagra; little men both in size and in mind.
I would enjoy hauling some of these “macho men” down to southwest Indian lands to experience a cleansing ceremony involving natural peyote buttons. This ceremony quickly sorts out those with a strong mind and those with a weak mind.
Only drawback is having to find those macho men who run off into a desert screaming their brains out in absolute fear. However, they usually do not run too far before collapsing in fright then curling up into a fetal position.
This well exemplifies your point of the smallest of things being amongst the most powerful of things. Some of those small things which slay the mightiest of men, are microscopic.
We humans are no where near as powerful as we think, but we are very destructive, suicidally so.
Nice article, MESSENGER, I enjoyed reading your thoughts.
Okpulot Taha
Report Post »Choctaw Nation
jacquecustard
Posted on September 21, 2010 at 10:30amSure lot of good Bear Grease there !
Report Post »cranberry
Posted on September 21, 2010 at 10:24amThe animals ALWAYS lose, don’t they? When are we going to live WITH the animals instead of KILL KILL KILL all the time. Pretty soon we’ll be looking at them in books and saying “Look Johnnie, this is what a bear lookED like. Pretty damn sad.
Report Post »Supreme Galooti
Posted on September 21, 2010 at 10:36amUtter hogwash. Humans are ANIMALS, and they protect themselves and their families, sometimes BY KILLING BEARS! Get real, Cranberry.
Report Post »The Truth Seeker
Posted on September 21, 2010 at 11:37amWhy so sour Cranberry?, there are PLENTY of bears out there. The only thing that would be sad is if that bear meat goes to waste. Animals kill and eat other animals all the time in nature. We are not slaughtering ALL bears. Removing a nuisance animal and ethical hunting to cull their numbers and instill some fear in them will be a good thing for them and us. Oh, and what would YOU do if little “Johnnie” was being attacked by a bear? Watch???…
Report Post »IX-XI
Posted on September 21, 2010 at 11:58amYeah, cranberry. Let’s get rid of all predators, since all they do is kill, kill, kill.
Bears? Cougars? An offense against the natural order.
Why is it the humans always have to lose, according to your scary worldview? Animals eat each other. Grow up and accept it. Bambi doesn’t talk, but he tastes pretty fine with a good marinade and the right spices before grilling. Same for Baloo.
Report Post »mtnclimberjim
Posted on September 21, 2010 at 1:16pm*****
Report Post »chazman
Posted on September 21, 2010 at 2:03pmLive with animals? You mean set a place aside in our homes for them? Hug them when we wake up in the mornings? What the hell, man!
Report Post »silverjoe
Posted on September 21, 2010 at 10:21amThis is serious stuff! Our Boy Scout Troop camps regularly in bear country. Accent on “Bear Country” (in California)! Bears generally only bother you when they pick up the scent of food, sweets, etc., about which they are curious. So guys and gals, don’t use aftershave or perfume in the wild. It attracts bears. Put your food in bear boxes, far away from where you’re sleeping. Your cabin in the wild gives off an odor that bears will smell; and eventually, if they are hungry, they’ll stop by to check out. And theses guys outweigh you by 2 to 5 times, so they’re not someone with whom to play! Hope this guy recovers and gets an opportunity to enjoy the outdoors. This from a life-long 60+ years in scouting (and retired CEO)
Report Post »mtnclimberjim
Posted on September 21, 2010 at 10:13amNatural selection.
Report Post »A1955Rosie
Posted on September 21, 2010 at 10:07amA civilized society is a wonderful freedom but it must NEVER be mistaken for common sense. The garbage was a sign, and nightime cautions were ignored. It is a difficult lesson that all in the “wilds” need to heed.
Report Post »klevalt
Posted on September 21, 2010 at 9:34amI have a bear that visits out house occasionally…. He takes our trash can… the whole can, because we have the lid secured so well, he can’t get it off, so he will drag the whole can into the woods. He has done this twice. We just let him.
Report Post »Spokavriel
Posted on September 21, 2010 at 9:47amYou might want to try putting some anchors into the ground. Say 8 bags worth or quick mix cement and anchor the can to them with thick bolts and heavy chains. While you continue to let him take your can and all the food it contains you are training the bear to become a greater threat to yourself or others further down the line.
Report Post »ALL4114ALL
Posted on September 21, 2010 at 5:29pmDo your research. There are large “freezer-like” containers available with lids that have bear-proof latches that you put the garbage cans in. A place I visit in North Carolina uses them — and they work great. Do some research.
Report Post »MikeinIdaho
Posted on September 21, 2010 at 9:32amBears are NOT cute cuddly critters, they are predators and are looking to fatten up prior to hibernation. Stay FAR away from them, carry a BIG sidearm and don’t run if you are surprised by one. They are fast and very strong. If attacked, your best bet, if you can’t shoot it, is to fall into the fetal position and play dead. If you “play” dead, you may not end up really “being” dead.
Report Post »Our prayers go our to the man and his family!
chazman
Posted on September 21, 2010 at 9:26amIt’s a human environment if humans are present. The gall of that bear! It deserved to be shot! I say ‘shoot ’em all!’ Damn bears …
Report Post »moegro
Posted on September 21, 2010 at 11:14amto him YOU are food! God bless the gentleman, and may he get well soon.and to all you who just want to go around shooting bears? I would not try, especially with a handgun, it is a lot harder than you might think. I met a bear camping with my little girl one time,I was cooking dinner. we just got in our canoe, and left him the food. paddled around for an hr, and when we got back he was gone, and supper was ready, on the fire. and instead of a frightening memory, it is a very beautiful one, for me and my daughter.
Report Post »Akira Gomi
Posted on September 21, 2010 at 9:18amHe apperently suprised the bear usually they will leave when they see you. 45 hydro shook, would have done the job.. Conceal and carry baby for those animals that want to jump bad… Yes you can hunt black bear with a hand gun!!
Report Post »Buck Bagaw
Posted on September 21, 2010 at 9:17amThis is the best argument for carrying a sidearm in bear country.
Report Post »mtnclimberjim
Posted on September 21, 2010 at 9:16amBears don’t like lib meat. Thats why he’s still alive.
Report Post »Spokavriel
Posted on September 21, 2010 at 9:16amBears are not Teddy Bears. They are PREDATORS. You must have the right attitude you are smaller than them and smell tasty. This is why we need to know where the range is where it is expanding to and be allowed to hunt predators for our own safety. Besides Bear Jerky is one of the best tasting Jerky types I have ever tried.
Too many people watch teams manhandle and do all sorts of things with tranquilized sleeping bears giving the false impression that they are safe to handle. And what’s worse is most things to keep you save in Bear country like making noise so the bear will avoid you will also attract the curiosity of wild cats like Bobcats or Cougars. There are many places the predators ranges overlap. And none of them follow the Disney rulebook.
Report Post »Toader Gloat
Posted on September 21, 2010 at 9:12amHope someone gets to eat it. The spleen is worth a ton o’ caishe!
elkaypee
Posted on September 21, 2010 at 9:06amIts a shame they had to kill the bear. After all, they were living in HIS environment.
Report Post »steve-o-con
Posted on September 21, 2010 at 9:19amSo where is the “human environment” and why can’t humans share the “bear environment” with bears and other animals. Sorry, I just disagree with that premise. Its a human environment also.
Report Post »Buck Bagaw
Posted on September 21, 2010 at 9:21amTypical comment from a detached viewpoint. You would have a different take had you been involved in the situation.
Report Post »Spokavriel
Posted on September 21, 2010 at 9:43amI take the same view. Here’s the thing. Its a vacation home. He should have known his vacating place was in Bear Territory and been more on guard yes. He also should have known bears are dangerous. But that might not have been a contributing factor. The thing is people are not hunting Bear enough for them to stay wary of Humans. So until the population is being culled and controlled properly again these incidents will keep happening. We need rational people to allow the hunts so that the population is no longer growing unchecked.
Report Post »tepartyblog.info
Posted on September 21, 2010 at 9:51amBS. The man was living in his environment and defended both his territory and life. Get over it you PETA freak.
Report Post »dfezz1
Posted on September 21, 2010 at 10:04amCorrect, Eating human garbage isn’t the natural BEAR environment. If the bear had been doing what bears need and should do this would have been avoided.
I have another take on the whole situation; if the man who was attacked would have been able to defend or even kill the bear himself, then Bears (in general) would re-gain their natural FEAR of humans, but instead of us scaring them or shoo-ing them, we feed them and watch them like birds. These animals are dangerous, if not to you then maybe your neighbors toddler. Wake-up and defend yourselves, this lady said she was yelling for help and no one was there. Yep no ones going t be there! TAKE CARE OF YOURSELF!
Report Post »booger71
Posted on September 21, 2010 at 10:29amHow much of this guy’s property taxes was the bear paying? None, so I conclude that the guy was in his own environment.
Report Post »pro1822
Posted on September 21, 2010 at 10:40amSays who? Where is mans enviroment?
Report Post »capt4503
Posted on September 21, 2010 at 11:27amI agree with elkaypee, the bear had to pay the price for stupidity. People need to understand that when you move into the forest the current residence need not comply with your way of life but the other way around. I would bet my last dime that people in this area purposely leave temptations out to attract the local wildlife. I live in the forest of north Idaho and frequently encounter bear, deer, elk, moose you name it. I never invite them to investigate me by leaving my trash cans available and I sure as hell don’t try to approach them. I have found through experience that if I give them there space they give me mine.
Report Post »IX-XI
Posted on September 21, 2010 at 11:54amThe guy was in his driveway at Lake Wenatchee, you moron.
That house was there long before that bear’s great grandmother was even born.
Bears have a great range in the cascades without encroaching on human areas. Their population is EXPLODING. There is no reason not to take a killer bear. In fact, there is no good reason not to hunt black bears in Washington State, where rapid increases in bear populations have forced them into more and more populated areas.
This is a direct result of outlawing leg hold traps and hound dogging over a decade ago in Washington. Now cougar and bear attacks are a constant danger in rural communities.
Don‘t tell me my family’s farm is “their” environment. Our family has been on that land for four generations, and it’s been a couple generations since the last time we had to set traps for bears and cougars. But they’re eating our cows now, because bears are territorial and the more bears there are the more territory is needed.
The bear my dad killed a couple years ago was a squatter in our territory, not the other way around.
Pull your head out.
Report Post »Deanna Z
Posted on September 21, 2010 at 12:21pmIt is a bigger shame that the animal rights idiots had not snuck Alaskan Grizzly bears into the lower 48 there would not be such a huge food shortage for the other bears. There were no grizzly in the lower 48 so they took it upon themselves to sneak them in against the rullings. The Alaskan Grizzly is much larger and far more agressive than the old grizzly of the lower 48 and will in fact attack rather than run from man. If you want to feel sorry for the bear being displaced than tell these groups to stop taking animals out of thier habitat and putting them in places where the disrupt the habitat of other animals.
Report Post »Venom
Posted on September 21, 2010 at 3:28pmIt was the bear’s environment. period. We (society) move on to their land then expect them to just go away. Wild animals will attack. If you don‘t like it don’t move into the woods. Why they “hunted” the bear is beyond me. He wasn’t a human that could be conscious of his own decisions. He is a wild animal period.
Report Post »churchdog
Posted on September 21, 2010 at 5:12pmNo shame in killing the bear. The shame is that people think man has no right to ooccupy certain places because they are still considered wilderness. Man has dominion. Every generation understood this until Disney warped their minds. I’ll never understand the pity for aggresive animals!
Report Post »W W GW D?
Posted on September 21, 2010 at 8:03pmI agree you hear this all the time were encroaching on all of these animals environments…wheres the human environment?
Report Post »patton55
Posted on September 22, 2010 at 3:10amthe reason people are being attacked & bears are moving into areas they’ve never been – our wildlife & game officials no longer manage the population of these and other animals which are dangerous to human beings. sharks, bears, gators,& etc. must be managed ie: killed to protect children from having their heads ripped off, not to mention the rest of us.
Report Post »Sledgehammer
Posted on September 21, 2010 at 8:59amHeart felt prayers, for a full and speedy recovery!
Report Post »