NationStates Jolt Archive

FLORA, Ill. -- An 80-year-old worker at a shuttered southern Illinois petting zoo has died at an Indiana hospital after being mauled by one of the zoo's black bears.

Tom Phillips' daughter-in-law said the man had continued to work at the Spotted Acres farm and petting zoo just outside Flora, Ill., since it closed to the public a couple years ago.

Deb Phillips said her father-in-law was trying to corral an escaped black bear Wednesday night with a bag of dog food when the bear attacked.

The Clay County Sheriff's Office said in a news release that they were called to the farm about 30 miles south of Effingham, Ill., and found Tom Phillips being attacked, forcing deputies to shoot the bear.

Phillips was pronounced dead that night at a hospital.


first of all who the hell has black bears at a petting zoo?? bears are dangerous, and not cuddly little critters that can be coaxed with dog food and snuggled.

LMFAO! This shit's made my day!

petting zoo material???? seriously would someone walk up to this and give it a hug?


http://www.floa.org/images/black_bear.jpg

Troll. :rolleyes:

petting zoo material???? seriously would someone walk up to this and give it a hug?


http://www.floa.org/images/black_bear.jpg

Aaaw, look at the...

...hmm, wait, it probably smells bad and has fleas. No. That reminds me of a girl I once knew, actually.

first of all who the hell has black bears at a petting zoo?? bears are dangerous, and not cuddly little critters that can be coaxed with dog food and snuggled.
It says there that the zoo had been closed two years before, so it probably just grew up.

It says there that the zoo had been closed two years before, so it probably just grew up.


but if the zoo is closed wouldn't they ship off the animals to other zoos or places where it can be taken care of not by an 80 year old with a bag of dog food?

this is another case of stupidity at it's finest

first of all who the hell has black bears at a petting zoo?? bears are dangerous, and not cuddly little critters that can be coaxed with dog food and snuggled.

It was a petting zoo several YEARS AGO....!

You'd think they'd have noticed the bear had,.. uh,.. GROWN..!!

Or,.. perhaps this was some "odd" form of euthanasia that the old fellow
decided on to end it all..?

It DID get him in the (funny) papers..!!


-Iakeo

HA! Yet another case of animal gets pissed at being kept in a cage. YAY!! Go Bear!!

HA! Yet another case of animal gets pissed at being kept in a cage. YAY!! Go Bear!!


go bear indeed.

If I was kept in a cage my whole life I would probably do the exact same thing...only I would do it to more than one person.

If I was kept in a cage my whole life I would probably do the exact same thing...only I would do it to more than one person.


a serial killer bear. that would be awesome.

but if the zoo is closed wouldn't they ship off the animals to other zoos or places where it can be taken care of not by an 80 year old with a bag of dog food?

this is another case of stupidity at it's finest
Perhaps, or maybe make sure that the person was trained in what to do in case the bear escaped.

Perhaps, or maybe make sure that the person was trained in what to do in case the bear escaped.


definitely train someone to handle that sort of situation. bears are not little kittens, in order to handle one you must be properly trained or armed

Bears 1 Dumbasses 0

It's the same mentality that believe chimpanzees are adorable intelligent companions when in the wild they're really vicious and strong baby-eaters.

LMFAO! This shit's made my day!
Why would someone's death, particularly in such a horrible way, please you??? :headbang:

Why would someone's death, particularly in such a horrible way, please you??? :headbang:

Maybe he was a Liberal war protestor? That'll put a smile on your face.

It's the same mentality that believe chimpanzees are adorable intelligent companions when in the wild they're really vicious and strong baby-eaters.
Yep. Our closest relatives are alot like us.

Why would someone's death, particularly in such a horrible way, please you??? :headbang:


because when you try to picture an 80 year old man who believes that he can coax a black bear with a bag of kibbles and bits......

how can you not laugh?

Maybe he was a Liberal war protestor? That'll put a smile on your face.

LMAO

first of all who the hell has black bears at a petting zoo?? bears are dangerous, and not cuddly little critters that can be coaxed with dog food and snuggled.
Which explains why it was closed to the public..

theres a documentary out by warner herzog (thats his name i think) about this dude who wanted to be one with the bears, one clip shows him holding out food to a bear, the bear swipes at him dangerously, he waggles his finger going now now, as if the bear were a disneyfied creation...anyway he got both himself and his girlfriend killed and he was a bit screwed up, 13 years he was at this, so it could have been a prolonged suicide attempt. Apparently its compelling viewing, certainly the subject matter would warrant it.

Maybe he was a Liberal war protestor? That'll put a smile on your face.
Sigh. One could only hope! :D

theres a documentary out by warner herzog (thats his name i think) about this dude who wanted to be one with the bears, one clip shows him holding out food to a bear, the bear swipes at him dangerously, he waggles his finger going now now, as if the bear were a disneyfied creation...anyway he got both himself and his girlfriend killed and he was a bit screwed up, 13 years he was at this, so it could have been a prolonged suicide attempt. Apparently its compelling viewing, certainly the subject matter would warrant it.
It's going to be shown on the Discovery Channel. It's called Grizzly Man.

Sigh. One could only hope! :D

In other words, a "horrible death" isn't so bad when it happens to someone who disagrees with you. Figures.

It's going to be shown on the Discovery Channel. It's called Grizzly Man.
Tonight, in fact. I think.

FLORA, Ill. -- An 80-year-old worker at a shuttered southern Illinois petting zoo has died at an Indiana hospital after being mauled by one of the zoo's black bears.

Tom Phillips' daughter-in-law said the man had continued to work at the Spotted Acres farm and petting zoo just outside Flora, Ill., since it closed to the public a couple years ago.

Deb Phillips said her father-in-law was trying to corral an escaped black bear Wednesday night with a bag of dog food when the bear attacked.

The Clay County Sheriff's Office said in a news release that they were called to the farm about 30 miles south of Effingham, Ill., and found Tom Phillips being attacked, forcing deputies to shoot the bear.

Phillips was pronounced dead that night at a hospital.petting zoo material???? seriously would someone walk up to this and give it a hug?


http://www.floa.org/images/black_bear.jpgwell... gotta admit, they are huggable.:D

but faceing off with an escaped bear with a bag of dog food???

another example of Natural selection at work.

well... gotta admit, they are huggable.:D

but faceing off with an escaped bear with a bag of dog food???

another example of Natural selection at work.

Darwin Award cracks aside, has anyone bothered to find out what moron decided putting a black bear in a petting section was a great idea? Because that is someone who should be allowed near kids as much as Michael Jackson.

Darwin Award cracks aside, has anyone bothered to find out what moron decided putting a black bear in a petting section was a great idea? Because that is someone who should be allowed near kids as much as Michael Jackson.


http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/msnbc/Components/Photos/050603/050603_jackson_vmed_4p.vmedium.jpg

Have you checked the children?

I was attacked and badly bitten/torn by a huge dog. For 15 minutes. The dog bit down hard and shook his head,trying to tear off my arms and hands.

I have a lot of sympathy for this poor guy-wether he had poor judgement or not.

Being torn apart is an exceptionally bad way to go.

i believe the bear was also killed...

the bear swipes at him dangerously, he waggles his finger going now now, as if the bear were a disneyfied creation...that gives me the idea, that the family could sue disney for inacurately portraiing dangerous animals as cuddly companions and discounting the danger they pose to humans. all disney movies should get a disclaimer like "Warning! Animals are actually dangerous and can seriously injure and kill you without warning or provocation!"

I feel this thread needs to stay in circulation.

i believe the bear was also killed...


i don't believe the bear should have been killed. all he did was act like a bear. you dont fuck with bears. they are nasty feroucious creatures.

I'm nominating this guy for a Darwin Award.

I'm nominating this guy for a Darwin Award.

i thought he already won when he said "here little bear, i got some kibbles n bits for ya"

I feel this thread needs to stay in circulation.


me too. help keep this thread alive by feeding more stupid people to bears. The bears are hungry, and we have a lot of stupid people in this world. who really loses here?

me too. help keep this thread alive by feeding more stupid people to bears. The bears are hungry, and we have a lot of stupid people in this world. who really loses here?

He wasn't stupid.. he was just big-boned.

I'm nominating this guy for a Darwin Award.
Don't bother. Without even checking, I can tell you that he's been nominated at least 20 times by now, and I doubt the story will be accepted.