TARGET 111228

The Chase

The chase begins

Who's there?

Notice: While it is not generally our policy to post emotionally charged targets - especially those with negative emotions, this target was offered as both a viewing target and a sort of public educational announcement. I hope you take it in that spirit, as the knowledge it imparts may be very valuable to you or someone you know, some day.

The following target may look funny, mainly because of the situation and because it has a big, fluffy, loveable-looking bear in it. It was serious, though, because polar bears can, even when playful, be powerful enough to kill someone without even meaning to.

The fact that the outcome was safe and everyone who was there finally laughed and kidded the man about it is just a fact of life in the rough wilds of Alaska.

There are few things more enjoyable on a freezing day than a vigorous game of tag followed by a hearty meal... unless you're supposed to be the main course, that is. Is this polar bear just curious? Hungry? Is there really a safe way to find out? No?

Trying to hide

Trying to hide

The human, a surveyor, was returning to his car in the remote town of Barrow, Alaska, when he saw the great white beast.

With no time to unlock the door of his vehicle and climb inside, he tried to duck out of sight.

The chase begins

The chase begins

But the bear was not giving up, and a terrifying chase began.

First, the beast stood up on its furry haunches and eyed the man. Then it loped around the car, and even climbed over the hood to try to reach him.

Round n round we go.

'Round 'n 'round we go"

Make no mistake. This is a serious situation. The fact that workers are trained for such things before they go to work in the frozen north doesn't necessarily lessen the seriousness any at all. Those residents who are born and raised in this country have probably had one or two times during their lives when just such a situation has taken place, or they have seen such, and are always alert to such situations. They have a built-in safety margin that an outsider would not have.

Finding a refuge

Finding refuge

The man eventually managed to take refuge in a neighbouring truck which was unlocked, but the bear did reach him before he was able to close the door.

His back and head were covered in more than 100 deep scratches where the massive claws had managed to rip through his thick winter clothes and padded coat.

The advice you will get in all of the national parks in the lower states is, "Never run from a bear. It only makes them chase you." People in Alaska know, though, that such advice doesn't apply to polar bears, and if you're up that way, always be careful to watch for something white moving across the white of the landscape. Stay alert and stay safe. It's only something to joke about after you've lived through it.

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Many thanks to Ray McClure who provided this target