(1/2) Oh, my dear Veritas 101, your post displays some pretty astonishing logic errors.  First, if the children had been my own, I would have (a) been grateful that they survived their lack of bear-sense, and (b) used it as a teachable moment regarding sharing space with wildlife.  Side note:  my kids were raised in the Bush and were taught from a young age how to be safe when in bear country.  Next, you make the leap of suggesting that those of us who advocate using good bear-sense do not take the incident seriously.  Again, this is a faulty assumption.  As Mr. Sinnott points out, this was a defensive action by a sow protecting her cubs.  It is that risk that prompts so many of us to urge all people choosing to use our amazing trail systems to be vigilant, attentive to surroundings, and alert.  Having raised teens and taught hundreds more, I suspect that these four were not applying those basic behaviors.  That doesn't make the kids bad, just foolish.