Humans and bears - Wild encounters

[brotherbear]

Man Meets Grizzly by Young and Beyers.

Man feels both fear and admiration for the grizzly. He has respected and even, in some instances, as was the case with the Indians, venerated the grizzly bear's prowess and courage. The white man has on the whole been more grudging in his admiration, especially when he has felt his person or livestock to be threatened. The Indian alone has given his homage gladly. For the Indians, it was a signal honor to kill a bear in combat, when only spears, bows and arrows, or the limited rifle they had acquired from white traders were used. Chiefs sometimes wore necklaces of grizzly claws as indisputable tokens of their bravery.

By common consent, the grizzly is known as an aristocrat among animals, as much the monarch of North America as the lion is of Africa and the tiger is of Asia. He is not only the most powerful of our wild animals but also the most intelligent ... Reply