Comments

1. On June 17, 2025 at 5:32 pm, Paul B said:

   One lucky, tough old dude. That would have been a lot to handle.

2. On June 18, 2025 at 8:17 pm, Ozark Redneck said:

   Good Story! Thanks for sharing. Yes, agreed Paul, a lot of True Grit there, that’s for sure!

3. On June 19, 2025 at 5:06 pm, Georgiaboy61 said:

   Wabash Bill was one tough son-of-a-gun, that’s for sure. Do they even make men that tough anymore?

   But, as strange as it seems, he was lucky too. How can you say that about a guy who was mauled nearly to death by a bear? Here’s how…

   Bears have a remarkably keen sense of smell. So keen that they have a ten-fold greater sensitivity than a blood-hound, and most of you know how well a hound can catch and follow a scent.

   Wabash Bill probably had no other means of getting that fresh carcass out of the bush than by carrying it, but the moment he shouldered it, he unwittingly hung out the sign that feeding time had started. Not just for bears, but for any passing critter that had an appetite.

   Given that he had to carry the carcass, it would have been best if he’d stuck to open country to the extent possible, if for no other reason that to give himself some possible warning that he was being hunted. If he’d known, maybe he could have surrendered the kill and made his escape while the bear and its cubs feasted on it. He’d have been smart in that scenario to shuck any blood-stained clothing, too.

   He’d have been wise to suspend his carcass in a tree or cache it somehow – and come back later with a friend or two. No guarantee that more people would have kept the bruin away, but numbers help, if nothing else by giving extra sets of eyes/ears against threats, and also perhaps driving away any inquisitive creatures. And perhaps one or more friends would have been armed, which might have tilted the scales a bit in their favor.

   The other question mark is the cubs. When it comes to defending their cubs, bears attack first and ask questions later. You don’t want to be in proximity to any adult bear with its cubs for this reason. Give them a wide berth. Many a bear attack has been inadvertently triggered by surprising a sow and her cows in heavy brush or elsewhere.

   This is why one of the hacks for hikers is to wear bells or some sort of noise making device – to tell Momma Bear you’re coming. Give her and the cubs time to retire…

   Wabash Bill might have avoided his grisly fate if he’d used one of the oldest and best bear control methods in the book, namely fire. Like most mammals, bears have a powerful, instinctive aversion to fire. One of the best ways to ward off bears if you are in their country is to simply build a fire, or at least carry a torch.

   Well, this is all Monday Morning Quarterbacking. Glad he survived, even if he was crewed up and beat up badly.

4. On June 21, 2025 at 12:14 pm, Ned said:

   That fish dropped within reach seems like divine intervention.

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