Bear taps into cans of campers' beer

The Associated Press - August 20,2004

BAKER LAKE, Wash. - When state Fish and Wildlife agents recently found a
black bear passed out on the lawn of Baker Lake Resort, there were some
clues scattered nearby - dozens of empty cans of Rainier Beer.

The bear apparently got into campers' coolers and used his claws and teeth
to puncture the cans. And not just any cans.
"He drank the Rainier and wouldn't drink the Busch beer,'' said Lisa
Broxson, bookkeeper at the campground and cabins resort east of Mount Baker.

Fish and Wildlife enforcement Sgt. Bill Heinck said the bear did try one can
of Busch, but ignored the rest. The beast then consumed about 36 cans of
Rainier.

A wildlife agent tried to chase the bear from the campground but the animal
just climbed a tree to sleep it off for another four hours. Agents finally
herded the bear away, but it returned the next morning.

Agents then used a large, humane trap to capture it for relocation, baiting
the trap with the usual: doughnuts, honey and, in this case, two cans of
Rainier.

That did the trick.

"This is a new one on me,'' Heinck said. "I've known them to get into cans,
but nothing like this. And it definitely had a preference.''

Gene Seach wrote:[color=blue]
> Bear taps into cans of campers' beer
>
> The Associated Press - August 20,2004
>
> BAKER LAKE, Wash. - When state Fish and Wildlife agents recently found a
> black bear passed out on the lawn of Baker Lake Resort, there were some
> clues scattered nearby - dozens of empty cans of Rainier Beer.
>
> The bear apparently got into campers' coolers and used his claws and teeth
> to puncture the cans. And not just any cans.
> "He drank the Rainier and wouldn't drink the Busch beer,'' said Lisa
> Broxson, bookkeeper at the campground and cabins resort east of Mount Baker.
>
> Fish and Wildlife enforcement Sgt. Bill Heinck said the bear did try one can
> of Busch, but ignored the rest. The beast then consumed about 36 cans of
> Rainier.
>
> A wildlife agent tried to chase the bear from the campground but the animal
> just climbed a tree to sleep it off for another four hours. Agents finally
> herded the bear away, but it returned the next morning.
>
> Agents then used a large, humane trap to capture it for relocation, baiting
> the trap with the usual: doughnuts, honey and, in this case, two cans of
> Rainier.
>
> That did the trick.
>
> "This is a new one on me,'' Heinck said. "I've known them to get into cans,
> but nothing like this. And it definitely had a preference.''
>
>[/color]
That's interesting. While neither beer is particularly flavorsome, I'd
noticed in the past that I got a headache from Busch beer after just one
can. I'd assumed I had a mild allergy to some ingredient or additive.
It's nice to see other creatures share my opinion.

--
And whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant.
Matthew 20:27 KJV