Wildlife Photographer Mauled by Grizzly for the 2nd Time
Jim Cole wildlife photographer and Author was mauled for the second time in his life and has a history of getting close (maybe to close) and was cited by park rangers in the past for this behavior. Park Rangers at Yellowstone are investigating the latest mauling that happened in the back country of Yellowstone. Mr. Cole after the mauling by a sow with a cub was able to hike 3 miles out to get help. He was latter air lifted to a hospital in Idaho for severe facial injuries but is in stable condition.
One mauling in a lifetime I would think is more then enough never mind two. At this point we don’t know if Jim Cole was at fault in this attack but photographers need to be careful when working with any wild animal and follow ethical guidelines;
Environmental: knowledge of subject and place
• Learn patterns of animal behavior–know when not to interfere with animals’ life cycles.
• Respect the routine needs of animals–remember that others will attempt to photograph them, too.
• Use appropriate lenses to photograph wild animals–if an animal shows stress, move back and use a longer lens.
• Acquaint yourself with the fragility of the ecosystem–stay on trails that are intended to lessen impact.
Even amateur photographers and wildlife observers need to follow these guidelines, it’s amazing how often I observe people approaching creatures within the parks like they are pets or domestic animals instead of respecting them as wildlife.
Any of the photographs I take I use a long lenses and any close ups are the result of the animal approaching me and not the other way around.
Photos I took in Alaska
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[...] Cole has spoken with reporters on what happened last week when he was mauled by a sow grizzly in the back country of Yellowstone. Jim surprised the sow and [...]
Pingback by Moose Droppings » Update on Grizzly Mauling — May 29, 2007 @ 11:09 am
[...] keep folks from attempting to run up on her and the cubs. Not to far from this location is where a professional photographer surprised a sow and got his face slapped a few weeks back. He is lucky he escaped with his [...]
Pingback by Moose Droppings » Bear With Me — June 10, 2007 @ 9:01 am
Photographers–don’t approach bears because if you do, you’re playing Russian roulette. When you approach a bear, eventually you’re going to encroach on the bruin’s personal space and force it to “fight or flee.” Unless you’ve had weeks or months to study the bear, you won’t know at what distance you’ll encroach on the bear’s personal space–might be 5 yards, might be 150 yards. Once you encroach on it’s personal space, you won’t know if it will move away or charge you. You’re playing Russian roulette. If it charges, you won’t know if it will stop short of making contact or put you in a hospital. Your’e playing Russian roulette. The best outcome for you is that the bear will flee–move away–but of course that raises ethical concerns. Is getting a photo so important that you have the right to drive a bear away from food or shelter it needs? Never approach bears. Forget the old “never get between a sow and her cubs.” You don’t have to get between a sow and her cubs to encroach on her personal space, you just have to get close enough.
Comment by dave smith — June 11, 2007 @ 11:32 pm
[...] the stories I did but by no means are these all the bear mauling s that took place this past year. Wildlife Photographer Mauled for 2nd Time in his life… Yellowstone National Park Grand Teton National Park Mauling 11 Year Old Killed by Bear in Utah NC Man Knocked Over By [...]
Pingback by Moose Droppings » A Look Back at The Great Outdoors of 2007 — January 6, 2008 @ 9:01 pm