Wolves kill bear cubs for a couple of different reasons. One is that eating the cub means nurishment to the wolves. The other is that it means one less competitor in the future.

--B.G.--

my condolences to his family

if the article is accurate, looks like he was not carrying any bear spray-not carrying bear spray in grizzly country IMO is rolling the dice- personally I won't hike in grizzly country w/o it (and this is frequently when I'm working and armed!)

Montana has jumped through every hoop (and then some) to get the grizzly de-listed (just as they demonstrated with the grey wolf), but alas it's still not de-listed. While a hunting a season in Montana would probably have only a minor effect in YNP or GNP, it would most certainly decrease conflicts in the rest of our state. The hunting season would most likely look exactly what it looked like before they took away our hunt- a highly regulated season with a very limited quota (with a female sub-quota). All man made mortalities would figure into the quota(s)- trains/cars/depredating kills, etc. The season would close on 24 hour notice when either quota was reached. A hunting season won't end all grizzly/man conflicts, but it will reduce them and most importantly- without jeopardizing the long term viability of the grizzly.

my .02

A followup on the bear involved in the first YNP fatality.

From the Billings Gazette:

"A grizzly bear sow responsible for killing a California man in Yellowstone National Park this summer was euthanized on Sunday after its DNA matched that found near the site of another hiker killed in a bear attack."

Read more: http://billingsgazette.com/news/state-and-regional/wyoming/article_2b5aa917-1d02-5191-b13d-75555bd695bb.html#ixzz1ZnGCZAdr

Actually my first defense would always be bear spray. I'm in their territory, not vice-versa. But I'd want a .44 in the other hand in case the grizzly bear hadn't heard it was supposed to back off with bearspray.

For black bear country like Yosemite bearspray is sufficient.

I never really see anyone carrying bear spray in yosemite... I've camped many a night in the sierras, and never have even gotten to see one

grizzlies on the other hand scare me a bit more... I find myself more worried about mt. lions in my local area, than bears in the sierra