The average bear may outsmart some humans

Despite our intelligence, humans sometimes aren’t the smartest animals.

Last week, experienced animal trainer Stephan Miller was killed when a 5-year-old bear bit him in the neck during the filming of an advertisement. His cousin, Randy Miller, built his Hollywood career by training wild animals to perform on cue and safely recreate legendary animal attacks for Discovery Channel and National Geographic documentary producers, including the tiger mauling of illusionist Roy Horn during a Siegfried &Roy show in Las Vegas.

The attack is, in fact, reminiscent of the 2003 incident in which a 380-pound white tiger sank its teeth into Horn’s neck and dragged him off stage in front of a horrified audience.

In both cases, the animal trainers are unwilling to admit the truth: Wild animals, no matter how well-trained, remain wild animals. And wild animals are unpredictable, no matter how well trained.

Randy Miller described the 700-pound grizzly, named Rocky, as a “loving, affectionate, friendly, safe bear.” Miller said he is at a loss to explain how a “simple routine” turned tragic.

It doesn’t matter whether it has been raised by humans since birth, there is no such thing as a loving, friendly, safe bear. Or tiger. Or whale. Or elephant.

News reports say Rocky began licking Stephan Miller’s face and then all of a sudden just bit him. Other reports say both men had a good reputation for safety, always taking extra steps. One step requires anyone around a bear to wear pepper spray to keep the bear away. Perhaps the “simple routine” turned tragic because Stephan Miller wasn’t wearing enough pepper spray, since the bear was licking him.

Likely there will be no definitive reason found for the attack, as was the case in Horn’s mauling. (Horn insists the tiger was trying to help him up after knocking him down.) Federal investigators looked at whether the tiger had been deliberately provoked by someone in the audience, if a terrorist sprayed it with a behavior-altering scent, or if it was unhinged by a woman with a beehive hairdo. Really, they looked into all those theories. There’s a 233-page report.

It’s only human for trainers to misinterpret an animal’s trainability as making it friendly and safe. They work with the animals for years, after all. Camaraderie and trust must build. At least in the human mind. The predator mind, meanwhile, can’t shake the thought of sinking teeth into vulnerable necks.

Talk to us

> Give us your news tips.

> Send us a letter to the editor.

> More Herald contact information.

More in Opinion

Initiative promoter Tim Eyman takes a selfie photo before the start of a session of Thurston County Superior Court, Wednesday, Feb. 10, 2021, in Olympia, Wash. Eyman, who ran initiative campaigns across Washington for decades, will no longer be allowed to have any financial control over political committees, under a ruling from Superior Court Judge James Dixon Wednesday that blasted Eyman for using donor's contributions to line his own pocket. Eyman was also told to pay more than $2.5 million in penalties. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren)
Editorial: Initiative fee increase protects process, taxpayers

Bumped up to $156 from $5, the increase may discourage attempts to game the initiative process.

toon
Editorial cartoons for Thursday, March 28

A sketchy look at the news of the day.… Continue reading

Washington state senators and representatives along with Governor Inslee and FTA Administrator Nuria Fernandez break ground at the Swift Orange Line on Tuesday, April 19, 2022 in Lynnwood, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Editorial: Community Transit making most of Link’s arrival

The Lynnwood light rail station will allow the transit agency to improve routes and frequency of buses.

Protecting forests and prevent another landslide like Oso

Thank you for the powerful and heartbreaking article about the Oso landslide… Continue reading

Boeing’s downfall started when engineers demoted

Boeing used to be run by engineers who made money to build… Continue reading

Learn swimming safety to protect kids at beach, pool

Don’t forget to dive into water safety before hitting the pool or… Continue reading

An image of Everett Mayor Cassie Franklin is reflected in a storefront window during the State of the City Address on Thursday, March 21, 2024, at thee Everett Mall in Everett, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Editorial: State of city address makes case for Everett’s future

Mayor Franklin outlines challenges and responses as the city approaches significant decisions.

FILE - The massive mudslide that killed 43 people in the community of Oso, Wash., is viewed from the air on March 24, 2014. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren, File)
Editorial: Mapping landslide risks honors those lost in Oso

Efforts continue in the state to map areas prone to landslides and prevent losses of life and property.

Comment: Why shootings have decreased but gun deaths haven’t

High-capacity magazines and ‘Glock switches’ that allow automatic fire have increased lethality.

toon
Editorial cartoons for Wednesday, March 27

A sketchy look at the news of the day.… Continue reading

Burke: ‘Why not write about Biden, for once?’ Don’t mind if I do.

They asked; I’ll oblige. Let’s consider what the president has accomplished since the 2020 election.

Comment: Catherine missed chance to dispel shame of cancer

She wasn’t obligated to do so, but she might have used her diagnosis to educate a sympathetic public.

Support local journalism

If you value local news, make a gift now to support the trusted journalism you get in The Daily Herald. Donations processed in this system are not tax deductible.