If A Bear Tears Apart A Division Supts Tent While They’re Sleeping In Spike Camp, What Should Be Done?

Idaho's had a wild week.

A week ago, I posted a video of a large black bear that had wandered into a camp catering unit under the mess hall tent. This week, a bear tore apart a tent in a spike camp while someone was sleeping inside. I am entirely aware that when we spike out on a fire, we are now in the animal’s habitat. The deer, elk, bears, and birds all know we are there and, after a few days, can smell we have food. It’s why spike camps need to be cleaned, and trash needs to be backhauled daily.

But when a bear rips through a tent on a fire like happened just a couple of days ago, whose fault is it, if any, and more importantly, what should be done?

Is it the bear’s fault, the firefighter’s fault, the base camp managers' fault, the Fish and Game’s fault…? Maybe it’s the lightning’s fault because it started the fire in the first place. Like anything, I think a more in-depth conversation is needed. And beyond that, what should be done?

Does the bear deserve the electric chair after a trial by his peers? Or should you move spike camp? Maybe you should do nothing…?

This last week, a lot of crazy things happened on Idaho fires. I’ll get into that, but first, let’s discuss the bear…