Boy Scouts: Bagging the Bears

At Philmont Scout Ranch, a wide-open, 241-sq.-mi. Boy Scout camp in northern New Mexico, 15,000 scouts each year learn to set up tents and brave the elements. Rain and wind, bugs and varmints -- no problem. But bears?

So far this year, five scouts camping on the ranch have been injured, none fatally, in three bear attacks. Two boys were mauled by a black bear only two weeks ago. In all, six troublesome bears have been hunted down and killed.

New Mexico game and fish department officials believe the bears may be wandering farther afield this year in the wake of...