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Published: Friday, July 17, 2015, 12:01 a.m.
Bring back the grizzly bear if you dare
You may have seen the recent documentary“Jurassic World,” in which we learn of the horrible things that happen when people reintroduce animals that had vanished, especially when they do so at theme parks that have terrible security.
As famous Snohomish County native Chris Pratt demonstrates in the film, unintended consequences can cause things to spiral out of control. Our latest poll at HeraldNet.com indicates many of you haven’t learned that valuable lesson. We asked if you support reintroducing grizzly bears to the North Cascades, and 52 percent said yes.
Grizzlies haven’t been seen in Snohomish County since 1996, when a biologist confirmed one near Glacier Peak and lived to tell the tale. Now, government agencies are working on a planto bring the bears back to their natural range, which includes nearby peaks such as Whitehorse Mountain and Mount Pilchuck.
Supporters say the return of grizzlies would restore a healthy food chain and enhance other wildlife populations. Besides, they say, bears aren’t really all that interested in people and would rather be left alone.
Or so the bears would have you believe.
“Do you seriously not care about people being mauled or killed?” one Marysville resident wrote in comments gathered by government agencies.
Sure, we could listen to reason. The statistics say that only seven people have died from bear attacks in the 142-year history of Yellowstone National Park, which has hundreds of grizzlies. That you can take simple precautions to stay safe when hiking. That you have a much greater chance of being killed by a dog bite or a lightning strike.
On the other hand, bears are scary. And Chris Pratt is too busy in Hollywood to save us when the grizzlies attack.
Next up, we'd like to hear your thoughts on Russell Wilson. Could he take on a grizzly bear?
As famous Snohomish County native Chris Pratt demonstrates in the film, unintended consequences can cause things to spiral out of control. Our latest poll at HeraldNet.com indicates many of you haven’t learned that valuable lesson. We asked if you support reintroducing grizzly bears to the North Cascades, and 52 percent said yes.
Grizzlies haven’t been seen in Snohomish County since 1996, when a biologist confirmed one near Glacier Peak and lived to tell the tale. Now, government agencies are working on a planto bring the bears back to their natural range, which includes nearby peaks such as Whitehorse Mountain and Mount Pilchuck.
Supporters say the return of grizzlies would restore a healthy food chain and enhance other wildlife populations. Besides, they say, bears aren’t really all that interested in people and would rather be left alone.
Or so the bears would have you believe.
“Do you seriously not care about people being mauled or killed?” one Marysville resident wrote in comments gathered by government agencies.
Sure, we could listen to reason. The statistics say that only seven people have died from bear attacks in the 142-year history of Yellowstone National Park, which has hundreds of grizzlies. That you can take simple precautions to stay safe when hiking. That you have a much greater chance of being killed by a dog bite or a lightning strike.
On the other hand, bears are scary. And Chris Pratt is too busy in Hollywood to save us when the grizzlies attack.
Next up, we'd like to hear your thoughts on Russell Wilson. Could he take on a grizzly bear?
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