Getting back to nature.

jwaltos · 2020-03-11, 14:12

On the lighter side of things, I had just come back from a month long vacation in the Caribbean where I rediscovered a few things such as Mimosa Pudica as well as coming up close to a large sting ray at my favourite coral outcrop and revisiting the usual cast of characters who live there. Here are some suggestions for getting back to nature in the tropics: croc watching, hippo racing and whack-a-mole (pix attached).

Uncwilly · 2020-03-11, 14:19

Quote:

Originally Posted by jwaltos

On the lighter side of things, I had just come back from a month long vacation in the Caribbean
....
Here are some suggestions for getting back to nature in the tropics: croc watching, hippo racing and whack-a-mole (pix attached).

[mod hat]As humorous as those might be, they all depict people that I suspect don't look like you as "dumb". This is perpetuating stereotypes. It is likely not intentional, but it is a form of "us vs. them". Please consider how people might not like to be depicted like this.[/mod hat]

Xyzzy · 2020-03-11, 14:23

Hippos are extremely dangerous!

Quote:

The hippo is among the most dangerous animals in the world as it is highly aggressive and unpredictable.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hippopotamus

Dr Sardonicus · 2020-03-11, 15:15

It's coming up on the 21st anniversary of this "Parents, you're supposed to control your kids" story (my emphasis): Leopard Attacks Colo. Boy at Zoo

Quote:

March 16, 1999
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (AP) A leopard bit the head of a 6-year-old boy who climbed an embankment at a zoo to get a better look at the big cats on Tuesday.
<snip>
Police said Phillip was with his mother and a sibling when they stopped at the Asian Highlands exhibit. He climbed over a rope and scrambled up the embankment, then leaned against a fence that surrounded the enclosure. The leopard pushed his head through the fence and bit the boy.

I have a few early memories of a visit to Yellowstone on a family vacation. I remember seeing Old Faithful, and some other volcanic wonders. I don't remember the grizzly bear managing to get part of its paw in through the "no-draft" window on the driver's side as we waited in line at the entrance, my dad at the wheel. Some years later, my dad described a scene in that line of a couple on honeymoon, with the husband getting out of the car, shepherding a compliant grizzly bear into the driver's seat, taking a picture of the bear sitting next to his wife, then shepherding the bear back out of the car, and getting back behind the wheel. I can not vouch for the veracity of that story, but it's a fun story.

There are innumerable true stories -- and videos -- of tourists coming into Yellowstone feeding the bears. This would be foolhardy in the extreme even if they were black bears, but these are grizzly bears. As I heard one park ranger put it, these tourists are saying, "Here, bear, eat my arm!"

Feeding bears is not only immediately dangerous to the ~~idiot~~ person doing it. If a bear learns to associate people with food, it might well come right up to any person it sees and expect a handout. And if there's not one forthcoming, that bear will likely get aggressive.

retina · 2020-03-11, 17:05

In New York a black bear crossed my path in front of me during a ride. It was both amazing and terrifying. It was a "small" bear, not much smaller than me. At the time I wondered if it's mother was behind an adjacent bush and might see me as a threat as I rode past. Plus, this was on a steep climb and I couldn't get much momentum going to speed by to minimise the attack time opportunity.

My HR peaked at 194 that day.

jwaltos · 2020-03-12, 00:33

Quote:

Originally Posted by Uncwilly

[mod hat]As humorous as those might be, they all depict people that I suspect don't look like you as "dumb". This is perpetuating stereotypes. It is likely not intentional, but it is a form of "us vs. them". Please consider how people might not like to be depicted like this.[/mod hat]

No intention of demeaning anyone as I have been the recipient of these kinds of events also and for anyone else who has you can laugh about it afterwards especially if someone has taken a picture. Again, safety first and if you can laugh about it after, great. Here is an instance where mountain climbing can be hazardous in unexpected ways: Looks like the seagull had something to say as well. If you think this is an inappropriate post then by all means delete it. There needs to be some balance regarding the current pandemic. I for one am on a prescription of Corona beer (light) to counteract the effects of the virus...drunkeness has its merits at times.

LaurV · 2020-03-12, 05:33

Quote:

Originally Posted by retina

New York

Hm... getting closer to your lair...
On topic: these are all very old pictures, famous on the web at their time. We have seen them repeatedly along the years.

retina · 2020-03-12, 08:46

Quote:

Originally Posted by LaurV

Hm... getting closer to your lair...

We always have beer available for visiting dignitaries. Come in and have some. You are welcome.

Dr Sardonicus · 2020-03-12, 14:29

Quote:

Originally Posted by retina

In New York a black bear crossed my path in front of me during a ride. It was both amazing and terrifying. It was a "small" bear, not much smaller than me. At the time I wondered if it's mother was behind an adjacent bush and might see me as a threat as I rode past. Plus, this was on a steep climb and I couldn't get much momentum going to speed by to minimise the attack time opportunity.

My HR peaked at 194 that day.

I guess you weren't informed about "bear etiquette." Trying to flee from a pursuing bear is a Bad Idea. It's sort of like trying to run away from a dog, except bears are much bigger, with teeth and claws to match. And a black bear can go from 0 to 30 MPH in just over nothing flat.

kriesel · 2020-03-12, 15:25

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dr Sardonicus

Trying to flee from a pursuing bear is a Bad Idea.

Supposedly the worst choice is flight uphill. It will tire and slow you quickly and bears' limb geometry is well suited to it. Black bears are generally happy to avoid people. Brown (grizzly) or white (polar variant of grizzly) not so much. I know a slender nurse mom who deterred a brown bear from approaching her Alaskan campfire and young sons, with nothing more than a camp axe and loud vigorous behavior. Apparently bears understand "mama bear" attitude, even from a fair distance.

kriesel · 2020-03-12, 15:30

Quote:

Originally Posted by Uncwilly

[mod hat]depict people that I suspect don't look like you

Especially that guy dashing away from the croc; young, lean, fit, full head of dark hair, no gray visible. Ouch.

2020-03-11, 14:12	#1
jwaltos Apr 2012 Brady 2⁷×3 Posts	Getting back to nature. On the lighter side of things, I had just come back from a month long vacation in the Caribbean where I rediscovered a few things such as Mimosa Pudica as well as coming up close to a large sting ray at my favourite coral outcrop and revisiting the usual cast of characters who live there. Here are some suggestions for getting back to nature in the tropics: croc watching, hippo racing and whack-a-mole (pix attached). Attached Thumbnails Last fiddled with by jwaltos on 2020-03-11 at 14:13

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2020-03-11, 17:05	#5
retina Undefined "The unspeakable one" Jun 2006 My evil lair 2²×1,549 Posts	In New York a black bear crossed my path in front of me during a ride. It was both amazing and terrifying. It was a "small" bear, not much smaller than me. At the time I wondered if it's mother was behind an adjacent bush and might see me as a threat as I rode past. Plus, this was on a steep climb and I couldn't get much momentum going to speed by to minimise the attack time opportunity. My HR peaked at 194 that day.