Nature can be captivating and even mesmerizing for some, but don’t throw caution to the wind and engage in stupid.

A recent visit to the Grand Canyon provided the backdrop. It was a sight to behold with nature at its finest — yet also scary, to say the least.

There she was, sitting well beyond the bounds of the viewing site, her legs wrapped under a portion of a rock outcropping that jutted beyond the wall of the canyon. A bird’s eye view would be an understatement as she extended her arms from left to right with cell phone in hand taking a video of the wonderful view. 

People die doing things like that. But obviously she didn’t care, let alone consider the consequences of her action.

My eyes were not the only ones witnessing what was taking place. Did she encourage others to do the same? We’ll never know.

Here is a case of what if. Well, it happens. There are those who tried, and some have died. Days after witnessing and photographing the lady sitting on the outcropping, a 70-year-old woman fell to her death in the Grand Canyon.

According to a report published in The Washington Post, official’s used a helicopter to retrieve the body. The death was the fourth in or near the park since March 26.

There were 6.4 million visitors to the Grand Canyon last year. Seventeen died as a result of falls into the Canyon. Could those deaths been avoided? The accident reports tend to support that idea.

However, one does not have to travel to Arizona to witness stupidity in the outdoors. Close to home, it is possible to come across someone doing something they shouldn’t.

Black bear numbers have increased substantially in Pennsylvania, from around 4,000 in the 1970s to around 20,000 today. This dramatic growth has provided more opportunities for people to see bears, which is an experience many treasure. 

However, there is an ever present danger.

From now until soft and hard mast crops become available, black bears will take advantage of nearly every food source available. That includes dumpsters, garbage cans, food left for outside pets, farm fields, camp sites, you name it. To a black bear, a meal is a meal. And bears will take advantage of the situation, because they can.

Lately, black bear sightings and raidings of trash cans and the like are occurring at and around seasonal camps, camping sites, and residences situated in outlying areas. A source of food is the attractant.

Now don’t get me wrong. I enjoy observing black bears, but only when it can be done safely. However, then you hear the stories. You know the kind, “We kept the bear coming back for more. Between the peanuts and the potato chips we kept that bear around for a good twenty minutes. Wanna see the photos we took?” Yep, a fun situation that could have turned bad, quickly.

What could have happened is anyone’s guess. But how do you convince a black bear tipping the scales that possibly weighs more than your favorite uncle, Fred, and his Saint Bernard combined that the food is all gone, now go away? On more than a few occasions it doesn’t work that way.

Remember, black bears are big and extremely fast. Bears can go wherever they want because they can.

After all, feeding any type of wildlife leads to conditioned response. If there was food at a given location time and again, guess who might return, and you never know when.

Besides, congregating wildlife can spread disease. In bears and some other animals, the unintended consequence may include the spreading of mange. When it comes to turkeys, the feeding may spread turkey lymphoma. When it comes to feeding deer, the practice could help to spread Chronic Wasting Disease, referred to as CWD.

Also keep in mind that in PA, it is illegal to feed black bears and elk.

The PA Game Commission will be conducting a series of seminars regarding the feeding of wildlife. Locally on Tuesday, July 30, 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., Warren High School, 345 E. Fifth Ave., Warren, PA., one of these seminars will be presented.

Simply put, do not feed any type of wildlife. Well, OK, the winter bird feeder may be the exception.

Another one that scares most people is an encounter with a rattlesnake. Yep, just as dangerous as a hungry bear. Yet it is easy to neutralize the danger.

Here the word to remember is avoidance — let it alone. Some time back I observed one smart guy who teased a good sized rattler. With a blink of an eye the rattler struck the sole of his outstretched boot. Over the course of another second or two, I witnessed the individual have a divine moment. He gained a whole new respect for rattlesnakes. To this day when reminded of the incident, instantly sweat can be seen forming on his forehead.

Enjoy the wild places and the creatures that live there and do so with respect coupled with a healthy dose of common sense.

Charlie Burchfield is an active member and past president of the Pennsylvania Outdoor Writers Association, an active member of the Professional Outdoor Media Association, Outdoor Writers Assoc. of America and the Mason-Dixon Outdoor Writers. Gateway Outdoors email is GWOutdoors@comcast.net