I am so saddened upon hearing about a San Diego man who was mauled to death by a bear  in Denali Park, Alaska on August 24, 2012.  Richard White loved being around nature, and was intent on taking pictures, and subsequently paid for it with his own life.  The story grieves me because the man is from my area (San Diego); he was relatively young – only 49, and he was married and a father to a 21 month old baby girl – who will now grow up without her father.  Nobody deserves to be mauled to death, it is simply horrifying to think what Richard must have gone through.

I think the story hits close to my heart because I understand what it’s like to be fascinated with bears and what it’s like to want to take pictures of them, and get close up to them.   I somehow can understand Richard White’s need to be close to the bears and to continue taking pictures, even though it was not the right choice.

This is the picture that I got by putting my camera through the bar (I certainly would not recommend doing this to anyone else) and taking the photo:

Black Bear – Alaska

These are the pictures that you are supposed to get when you don’t put your camera through the bars – you get the fence in the picture.

Black Bear – Alaska

When I was in the bus at Denali National Park, and saw the Grizzly Bear, I hoped and prayed that they would let us out of the bus, just so that I could get better pictures, but there’s a reason they don’t do that.

This is the picture that I got while I was in the bus:

Grizzly Bear

When the bear started coming towards the bus, that must have been why the bus driver decided to take off

Grizzly Bear – front view – Denali

Denali Park

I realize the dangers of bears more acutely now, and somehow can’t help thinking….that could have been me.   Just remember when you go to Denali, pay heed to the training, and to what the park wardens tell you.  Pay attention to the signs, and better still – don’t go on your own or be thoroughly engrossed in picture taking that you forget the dangers lurking around you.

I am very sorry for what happened to Richard, and my condolences go out to all those who knew him, especially to his family, wife, baby, and his friends.  May you rest in peace, Richard.

These are some articles that you can read about Richard White, the San Diego man who lost his life in Denali:

http://www.cnn.com/2012/08/26/us/alaska-bear-attack/index.html

http://www.adn.com/2012/08/25/2599545/hiker-killed-by-grizzly-bear-in.html

My previous post of Wildlife Pictures Taken In Alaska can be viewed here: https://luchanik.wordpress.com/2012/06/11/wild-life-pictures-taken-in-alaska/

At 6 minutes and 22 seconds into this movie that I made and until 7 minutes and 19 seconds or so, you will see the Grizzly Bear in action in Denali Park, moving around stealthily while rummaging around, probably searching for food.