[Adam Helmer]

I have observed that 98+/-% of the folks in the wild assume it is a mere trek in Disneyland. Two years ago a fellow in NY state went with his wife and 10 year old son and his pal to their 17 "wooded acres" 12 miles north of Elmira, NY. Whilst the parents were photographing woods flowers the two kids screamed and fled to the site of the parents. The lads were pursued by a rabid fox. It bit the father, who grabbed said fox and choked it to death. OK, there TARZAN man!

The point is: These folks NEVER Understood they were responsible for their OWN safety out of cell-phone range! IT is NOT Disneyland in the outback, so keep your head out of your arse! At a minimum, carry a stout walking staff, or better yet, a firearm to deal with wildlife threats.

In 2001, I went to a remote Maine park in early October and walked my Goldens, Webley and K-C just off the parking lot. A Maine "Yupper" drove an old pickup truck up to me and advised, "Watch out for rabid fox and coyotes hereabouts. It is too bad we cannot carry guns in the park." He then drove off. I whistled up the Hunds and enjoyed the snug weight of my .357 M65 Smith under my jacket. WHATEVER. Do what ya gotta do. If the ESA fools are too unreasonable, then just walk away from ANOTHER justifible killing.

As for "After action reconstruction idiots", just walk away and do NOT tell those desk-bound specialists anything...IF you SURVIVE a wildlife encounter, then just go on with your life knowing you had the "stones" and another encounter is just weeks or months away. Bless you and increase your church pledge. Clean your gun and get ready for the NEXT encounter. Where was the ESA Investigator when you were in gravest extreme? When in doubt: Shoot, Shovel and SHUT UP! The three S's will cover your butt in the Greenie World!

Adam

Adam