First of all BRAD, I am not saying that you are wrong and I understand that it is your opinion. I just want to voice mine.....
In regard to the BF vs Grizzly.... I sincerely think that any creature that walks on two legs has to be very intelligent!! For it has the balance of one who has been on his feet for ages, recognizes danger and walks the other way, hides behind structures when it has been spotted and then peers around them to see if the coast is clear. I could go on, but my point being BF is very intelligent.
So, if there was ever a confrontation, I don't think it would be a one on one..okay let's go for it.. kinda fight. I believe that the BF, because he is more intelligent, would come across the Bear, only because IT wants to...not because it clumsily stumbled upon one. The woods are vast, and I doubt that a BF would ever really travel alone....not if they are gonna survive. If a BF wanted to take on, or kill a bear, it would plan it out and use wood and stones, AND other BF!
A bear on the other hand, would clumsily stumble upon anything in search of food and would stand it's ground as best it can but only to protect it's young.
Many documented sightings state that a BF was seen but it ran so fast that it couldn't clearly be seen and was out of sight, just like that. Sometimes with no noise whatsoever. A bear is nowhere near as quick as that and makes much noise just wandering about.
If you have ever seen footage of animals hunting in the wild....like Lions. They show how careful they must be to keep from getting gored by horns or kicked by powerful hooves as they aproach their prey. I would think that BF, who has quite possibly encountered everything that shares it's territory, would take the same precautions with Bear, Deer, Elk, etc.
As for a cougar...well I think it would be like you and I out walking and being attacked by a large Tom-cat. It would merely smack it a few times, rip some limbs off, or simply kick it to the moon.
I have often looked west to the nearby Olympic Mtns on a very cold day and wondered what wonderful Hide the creatures must have to survive the "even colder" weather that must be present up there...
Well...like I said...this is MY opinion. BF Rules!! My ancestors have told us so..
Posted on Mar 29, 2002, 7:37 PM from IP address 152.163.204.203