April 19, 2007: Electrocuted bear

Undertoad · 04-19-2007, 07:52 AM

A lurker who I can't match to a Cellar user name (thanks Shannon!) sent this along last night. The story that goes with the pics is a little suspect, but Snopes has checked it out and this brown bear actually did get electrocuted.

Before the bear could get to this wire, in which ran 5,000 volts, he had to tear open a utility box at the airport.

One kinda odd note about this one is that it was first discovered by a child riding her bike. But I'll wager that, in Alaska, children aren't kept unaware of the bleak realities of life and death in nature, and bears aren't friendly speaking creatures who sell you toilet paper.

According to this story,

Quote:

Bears like to chew on plastic, said Sinnott, who was not surprised the bruin was curious about the box and its contents. "I don't know what they get out of it, but they are curious and he might have tried to investigate it just because it's rubber or plastic."

milkfish · 04-19-2007, 08:02 AM

Unfortunate framing in the first picture - it looks like the plastic tape is threaded through the fellow's ears.

Also something about the positioning of the piece of paper in that shot reminds me of the Mexican naked protest IotD. Though it's slipped by the time of the shot with the backhoe.

monster · 04-19-2007, 08:13 AM

Pre-cooked IOTD. Wonder if it tastes like chicken?

maximum · 04-19-2007, 09:55 AM

April 19, 2007

Note to self:
Do not chew on electrical wire outside of house.

Sheldonrs · 04-19-2007, 10:11 AM

His last words were "Hold my pic-a-nic basket Boo Boo and watch this."

Shawnee123 · 04-19-2007, 10:19 AM

We need a NSFALBTOIRDAS warning.

(Not safe for animal lovers because this one is really dead and sad)

wolf · 04-19-2007, 10:41 AM

Bear's pretty tasty, but much better when well done. I seem to recall that they can carry trichinosis.

barefoot serpent · 04-19-2007, 10:47 AM

all of our Chinese members:
what are they going to do with the gall bladder?

Quote:

"I don't know what they get out of it, but they are curious and he might have tried to investigate it just because it's rubber or plastic."

and probably humming...

lumberjim · 04-19-2007, 10:48 AM

my cat likes to chew plastic. the vet said it had something to do with being weaned too early. i dunno.

ravenranter · 04-19-2007, 12:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lumberjim

my cat likes to chew plastic. the vet said it had something to do with being weaned too early. i dunno.

Hmmm. I've never heard that one by way of explanation. I've had a cat or two that liked to chew plastic though. The first time I had a cat like that, I found what looked like a piece of kelp, slimed with mucus. I knew it was something that the cat coughed up, but couldn't figure out what it was...until I found a black trash bag with a missing corner, in the basement containing an old rug in it.

Shawnee123 · 04-19-2007, 12:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lumberjim

my cat likes to chew plastic. the vet said it had something to do with being weaned too early. i dunno.

I've had two cats who loved to chew plastic, but were also very allergic to it. The first one I noticed because all of a sudden he had these huge lips. Vet said it's not uncommon. The other cat, same thing. We used metal bowls after that, but don't let Madison find the top off a cigarette pack.

Spexxvet · 04-19-2007, 10:51 AM

Hey look! A new rug!

Spexxvet · 04-19-2007, 10:52 AM

I wonder if his name is "Smokey"?

Leus · 04-19-2007, 11:34 AM

The smiling guy in the first picture bothers me...

Bullitt · 04-19-2007, 12:05 PM

At least once or twice a semester a squirrel will get into the transformer on our campus and get fried, knocking out power to a building or two. Yesterday it was the whole campus and the transformer caught on fire .. you guessed it, another squirrel.

04-19-2007, 08:02 AM	#2
milkfish A serene breakdown Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Northern NJ, USA Posts: 266	Unfortunate framing in the first picture - it looks like the plastic tape is threaded through the fellow's ears. Also something about the positioning of the piece of paper in that shot reminds me of the Mexican naked protest IotD. Though it's slipped by the time of the shot with the backhoe. __________________ A genius is one who can do anything except make a living. - Joey Lauren Adams

04-19-2007, 08:13 AM	#3
monster I hear them call the tide Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Perpetual Chaos Posts: 30,852	Pre-cooked IOTD. Wonder if it tastes like chicken? __________________ The most difficult thing is the decision to act, the rest is merely tenacity Amelia Earhart

04-19-2007, 10:11 AM	#5
Sheldonrs Master Dwellar Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 4,412	His last words were "Hold my pic-a-nic basket Boo Boo and watch this." __________________ Laugh and the world laughs with you; cry and the world laughs AT you.

04-19-2007, 10:19 AM	#6
Shawnee123 Why, you're a regular Alfred E Einstein, ain't ya? Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 21,206	We need a NSFALBTOIRDAS warning. (Not safe for animal lovers because this one is really dead and sad) __________________ A word to the wise ain't necessary - it's the stupid ones who need the advice. --Bill Cosby

04-19-2007, 10:41 AM	#7
wolf lobber of scimitars Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Phila Burbs Posts: 20,774	Bear's pretty tasty, but much better when well done. I seem to recall that they can carry trichinosis. __________________ wolf eht htiw og "Conspiracies are the norm, not the exception." --G. Edward Griffin The Creature from Jekyll Island High Priestess of the Church of the Whale Penis

04-19-2007, 09:55 AM	#4
maximum Writer of Writings Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Columbus, OH Posts: 14	April 19, 2007 Note to self: Do not chew on electrical wire outside of house.

04-19-2007, 10:48 AM	#9
lumberjim I can hear my ears Join Date: Oct 2003 Posts: 25,571	my cat likes to chew plastic. the vet said it had something to do with being weaned too early. i dunno. __________________ This body holding me reminds me of my own mortality Embrace this moment, remember We are eternal, all this pain is an illusion ~MJKeenan

04-19-2007, 10:51 AM	#12
Spexxvet Makes some feel uncomfortable Join Date: Dec 2005 Posts: 10,346	Hey look! A new rug! __________________ "I'm certainly free, nay compelled, to spread the gospel of Spex. " - xoxoxoBruce

04-19-2007, 10:52 AM	#13
Spexxvet Makes some feel uncomfortable Join Date: Dec 2005 Posts: 10,346	I wonder if his name is "Smokey"? __________________ "I'm certainly free, nay compelled, to spread the gospel of Spex. " - xoxoxoBruce

04-19-2007, 11:34 AM	#14
Leus Abecedarian Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Chile Posts: 179	The smiling guy in the first picture bothers me...

04-19-2007, 12:05 PM	#15
Bullitt This is a fully functional babe lair Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Akron, OH Posts: 2,324	At least once or twice a semester a squirrel will get into the transformer on our campus and get fried, knocking out power to a building or two. Yesterday it was the whole campus and the transformer caught on fire .. you guessed it, another squirrel. __________________ Kiss my white Irish ass.

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