Alaskan Grizzlies Kill Driller

thallub · October 2, 2018, 05:20 PM

A female grizzly and her cubs killed a 18 year old Oklahoma driller.

Quote:

Anthony David Montoya, 18, a contract worker from Hollis, Oklahoma, died at a remote drill site accessible only by helicopter on Monday, authorities said.

State Troopers said Montoya, who worked for Idaho-based Timberline Drilling, had been working at a drill site on the edge of the Hecla Greens Creek Mine property in southeastern Alaska when he was attacked.

He was mauled by the three bears, all of which were killed before they arrived.

http://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/...id=HPCOMMDHP15

TXAZ · October 2, 2018, 05:26 PM

Don't mess with baby bears with a momma?

You just can't be too careful.

Dano4734 · October 2, 2018, 07:13 PM

I just got back from Alaska a week or so ago, those things are monsters. They scare the stuffings out of me. They were all over the meadows I was hunting on. Luckily we all kept our distance

**4V50 Gary** · October 2, 2018, 07:30 PM

Bear spray? How about a dog (early warning system) and a big bore rifle?

Dano4734 · October 2, 2018, 07:33 PM

I had bear spray, my 454 casull and my 45-70 rifle still didn’t want to tangle with the Ford truck size bear with claws and teeth

2damnold4this · October 2, 2018, 07:46 PM

My thoughts are with the family, friends and coworkers of the young man. RIP

Dano4734 · October 2, 2018, 08:00 PM

For sure

Mobuck · October 3, 2018, 05:38 AM

Not the first time such an attack has occurred. Remote areas, people busy with a task, lack of overwatch, and hungry predators all add up to someone getting chomped.

Erno86 · October 3, 2018, 09:55 AM

My condolences to all those involved. But I would rank the victim's job as one of the world's top ten most dangerous jobs.

Don Fischer · October 3, 2018, 12:26 PM

I think the best thing with a dog is it will attract the bear till you can get to a rifle. I have read to many storied about the domestic dog that bring's the predator right to you when it happen's on one. I think my Stormy would do that. Out hunting and stranger's come he let's me know right away. He quit's the hunt and runs to me then get's a bit off from me and barks and watch's them closely. I don't think I'd care for him to do that with a large predator!

Everything I hear I suspect bear spray is a good idea even though some are pretty negative on it. I'd prefer a rifle, I'm pretty sure what I can do with it.

spacemanspiff · October 3, 2018, 01:45 PM

I assumed any drilling outfit up here in AK would have security staff accompanying all drill sites to protect against bears.

Mainah · October 4, 2018, 07:00 PM

He wasn't laying his own traps, I also wonder why his employer didn't provide an extra set of eyes considering the number of brown bears in the area.

Mobuck · October 4, 2018, 08:22 PM

According to a report I read, the attack occurred near but out of sight of a "group of people" at a noisy work site. This doesn't sound like a sow protecting cubs. It sounds like a family group preying on a human.
Since the bears had already been dispatched prior to the arrival of SHP officers, obviously, firearms were not far away.

bamaranger · October 5, 2018, 02:33 AM

Darn shame, young kid, likely able to work circles around all of us...just 18.

Bet that outfit ups its security, but too late for him.

I'm no bear expert, and never been to AK, but I'd think that far north, griz would be close to denning. Likely depend on how far north, and available food supply, but sooner rather then later. Darn shame and bad luck.

FITASC · October 5, 2018, 07:50 AM

SE Alaska is rainforest country, more temperate than the frozen tundra elsewhere.

spacemanspiff · October 5, 2018, 02:31 PM

As for denning, still a ways from that. Month or so, and yeah, that depends on where in the state. If its not freezing yet or theres no snow on the ground, the bears will continue to feed.

Model12Win · October 5, 2018, 05:16 PM

Mossy with Brennekes.

Bet that kid wish he’d had them ! !

Sure Shot Mc Gee · October 5, 2018, 10:06 PM

I blame the young mans employer. Alaska's frontier? I supect the field employee's weren't instructed about the many dangers when working there.

reynolds357 · October 7, 2018, 11:30 AM

Wonder how long it will take the animal rights nuts to demonstrate on behalf of the "poor" bears.

Nanuk · October 7, 2018, 09:06 PM

Quote:

Wonder how long it will take the animal rights nuts to demonstrate on behalf of the "poor" bears.

They are still in a frenzy over Kavanaugh....

Art Eatman · October 8, 2018, 09:40 AM

The article does not say what he was doing at the time of the attack.

Purely speculation: He was off-duty, wandering around the area of the drill site. He somehow got between the sow and her cubs, a worst-case scenario. Probably never had time to use pepper spray.

spacemanspiff · October 8, 2018, 03:31 PM

Per this link, all they know is he was headed to a nearby water pump site.

https://www.ktuu.com/content/news/Au...495081621.html

No matter where you are in the state, except perhaps up on the Arctic slope, one could run into bears they did not know where there because of thick brush.

October 2, 2018, 05:26 PM	#2
TXAZ Senior Member Join Date: September 5, 2010 Location: McMurdo Sound Texas Posts: 4,322	Don't mess with baby bears with a momma? You just can't be too careful. __________________ Cave illos in guns et backhoes

October 2, 2018, 07:30 PM	#4
4V50 Gary Staff Join Date: November 2, 1998 Location: Colorado Posts: 21,832	Bear spray? How about a dog (early warning system) and a big bore rifle? __________________ Vigilantibus et non dormientibus jura subveniunt. *Molon Labe!*

October 3, 2018, 09:55 AM	#9
Erno86 Senior Member Join Date: September 22, 2012 Location: Marriottsville, Maryland Posts: 1,739	My condolences to all those involved. But I would rank the victim's job as one of the world's top ten most dangerous jobs. __________________ That rifle hanging on the wall of the working class flat or labourer's cottage is the symbol of democracy. It is our job to see that it stays there." --- George Orwell

October 3, 2018, 01:45 PM	#11
spacemanspiff Senior Member Join Date: January 16, 2002 Location: alaska Posts: 3,498	I assumed any drilling outfit up here in AK would have security staff accompanying all drill sites to protect against bears. __________________ "Every man alone is sincere; at the entrance of a second person hypocrisy begins." - Ralph Waldo Emerson "People demand freedom of speech as a compensation for the freedom of thought which they seldom use." - Soren Kierkegaard

October 5, 2018, 02:33 AM	#14
bamaranger Senior Member Join Date: October 9, 2009 Location: North Alabama Posts: 8,303	shame Darn shame, young kid, likely able to work circles around all of us...just 18. Bet that outfit ups its security, but too late for him. I'm no bear expert, and never been to AK, but I'd think that far north, griz would be close to denning. Likely depend on how far north, and available food supply, but sooner rather then later. Darn shame and bad luck.

October 2, 2018, 07:13 PM	#3
Dano4734 Senior Member Join Date: October 6, 2014 Posts: 730	I just got back from Alaska a week or so ago, those things are monsters. They scare the stuffings out of me. They were all over the meadows I was hunting on. Luckily we all kept our distance

October 2, 2018, 07:33 PM	#5
Dano4734 Senior Member Join Date: October 6, 2014 Posts: 730	I had bear spray, my 454 casull and my 45-70 rifle still didn’t want to tangle with the Ford truck size bear with claws and teeth

October 2, 2018, 07:46 PM	#6
2damnold4this Senior Member Join Date: August 12, 2009 Location: Athens, Georgia Posts: 2,526	My thoughts are with the family, friends and coworkers of the young man. RIP

October 2, 2018, 08:00 PM	#7
Dano4734 Senior Member Join Date: October 6, 2014 Posts: 730	For sure

October 3, 2018, 05:38 AM	#8
Mobuck Junior member Join Date: February 2, 2010 Posts: 6,846	Not the first time such an attack has occurred. Remote areas, people busy with a task, lack of overwatch, and hungry predators all add up to someone getting chomped.

October 3, 2018, 12:26 PM	#10
Don Fischer Senior Member Join Date: March 2, 2017 Posts: 1,868	I think the best thing with a dog is it will attract the bear till you can get to a rifle. I have read to many storied about the domestic dog that bring's the predator right to you when it happen's on one. I think my Stormy would do that. Out hunting and stranger's come he let's me know right away. He quit's the hunt and runs to me then get's a bit off from me and barks and watch's them closely. I don't think I'd care for him to do that with a large predator! Everything I hear I suspect bear spray is a good idea even though some are pretty negative on it. I'd prefer a rifle, I'm pretty sure what I can do with it.

October 4, 2018, 07:00 PM	#12
Mainah Senior Member Join Date: July 9, 2007 Posts: 1,119	He wasn't laying his own traps, I also wonder why his employer didn't provide an extra set of eyes considering the number of brown bears in the area.

October 4, 2018, 08:22 PM	#13
Mobuck Junior member Join Date: February 2, 2010 Posts: 6,846	According to a report I read, the attack occurred near but out of sight of a "group of people" at a noisy work site. This doesn't sound like a sow protecting cubs. It sounds like a family group preying on a human. Since the bears had already been dispatched prior to the arrival of SHP officers, obviously, firearms were not far away.

October 5, 2018, 07:50 AM	#15
FITASC Senior Member Join Date: December 6, 2014 Posts: 6,441	SE Alaska is rainforest country, more temperate than the frozen tundra elsewhere. __________________ "I believe that people have a right to decide their own destinies; people own themselves. I also believe that, in a democracy, government exists because (and only so long as) individual citizens give it a 'temporary license to exist'—in exchange for a promise that it will behave itself. In a democracy, you own the government—it doesn't own you."- Frank Zappa

October 5, 2018, 02:31 PM	#16
spacemanspiff Senior Member Join Date: January 16, 2002 Location: alaska Posts: 3,498	As for denning, still a ways from that. Month or so, and yeah, that depends on where in the state. If its not freezing yet or theres no snow on the ground, the bears will continue to feed. __________________ "Every man alone is sincere; at the entrance of a second person hypocrisy begins." - Ralph Waldo Emerson "People demand freedom of speech as a compensation for the freedom of thought which they seldom use." - Soren Kierkegaard

October 5, 2018, 05:16 PM	#17
Model12Win Junior member Join Date: October 20, 2012 Posts: 5,854	Mossy with Brennekes. Bet that kid wish he’d had them ! !

October 5, 2018, 10:06 PM	#18
Sure Shot Mc Gee Senior Member Join Date: January 2, 2012 Location: Minnesota Posts: 3,876	I blame the young mans employer. Alaska's frontier? I supect the field employee's weren't instructed about the many dangers when working there.

October 7, 2018, 11:30 AM	#19
reynolds357 Senior Member Join Date: December 10, 2012 Posts: 6,165	Wonder how long it will take the animal rights nuts to demonstrate on behalf of the "poor" bears.

October 8, 2018, 09:40 AM	#21
Art Eatman Staff in Memoriam Join Date: November 13, 1998 Location: Terlingua, TX; Thomasville, GA Posts: 24,798	The article does not say what he was doing at the time of the attack. Purely speculation: He was off-duty, wandering around the area of the drill site. He somehow got between the sow and her cubs, a worst-case scenario. Probably never had time to use pepper spray.

October 8, 2018, 03:31 PM	#22
spacemanspiff Senior Member Join Date: January 16, 2002 Location: alaska Posts: 3,498	Per this link, all they know is he was headed to a nearby water pump site. https://www.ktuu.com/content/news/Au...495081621.html No matter where you are in the state, except perhaps up on the Arctic slope, one could run into bears they did not know where there because of thick brush. __________________ "Every man alone is sincere; at the entrance of a second person hypocrisy begins." - Ralph Waldo Emerson "People demand freedom of speech as a compensation for the freedom of thought which they seldom use." - Soren Kierkegaard