Victor Serhienko

Adventures of a Trapper Victor Serhienko First edition

Trapping for twenty-five years in Northern Ontario is a lot more challenging than trapping as a child. I was now trapping bear, lynx, wolf and numerous other fur bears. In 1985, one crucial mistake I made while trapping bear, was when I made a snare set alongside a trail, baited it and arranged branches, hoping to direct the bear to step on it. Soon after I went to check on it. Nearing the trap I noticed black animals across the trail. Getting closer I realized it was a mother bear and her cub. Suddenly, I heard a noise I've never heard in my life. The cub was about ten feet away scolding me for being to close to what he considered his food. Pulling out my hand gun, I fired three times and missed. Quickly disappearing into the bush I heard his mother calling and then all was quiet. The next day I went back and found the cub in the snare. I can't say how long after killing the cub I realized how close to death I had come. A mother bear, usually not far from her cub will do anything to protect it. Even kill.