Lions and tigers and...

There are some hazards associated with working in the far north, including a slim chance of polar bear attacks. Four years ago a yearling actually came into camp, but the camp dog chased it away.

Since my project is approved for field tests this summer, I'm going to be in a slightly-weird workplace training program all day tomorrow, Monday and Tuesday... a class which the US Geological Survey holds annually on basic defensive firearms safety for US Gov't. employees travelling in grizzly and polar bear country. The USGS has held this class for over ten years, after one of their employees very nearly lost her life from a bear attack. Instead she only lost her arms (amputated).

( Weapons used and class details follow )