Who, for example, could have guessed that Utah's first recorded incident of a bear killing a human would happen just a few short miles from a bustling city?

There is no doubt that this is a tragedy on many levels.

The worst, of course, is that an 11-year-old boy is gone. One can only imagine his family's feelings of loss.

As a father and grandfather, I like to think I can protect children in my care from harm. You do that by eliminating as many risks as you can.

Parents can warn their children about the importance of wearing a life jacket, about predators both human and animal, and even about what might happen if they don't cross the street properly. They can also discuss the dangers of drugs, drinking and premarital sex and rules such as not accepting rides or candy from strangers.

In the end, though, potential tragedies are everywhere. No parent is so wise, strong or all-knowing as to protect a child from every harm.

So how do those who love the outdoors react to a bear killing, an ATV accident, death on a rafting trip, a lightning strike in the wilderness or a child lost on a hike?

The answer certainly is not to quit going outdoors. Most big cities offer far more dangers to children.

It also can't be to eliminate all threats from the wild, by killing predators or sanitizing the outdoor experience so it is nothing more "outdoorsy" than a trip to Disneyland, where, for that matter, a few people have died in freak accidents.

Part of the solution is education.

Having seen a tent of my own torn apart by a grizzly bear in Canada a few years ago, I keep a clean camp when I'm in bear country. Food and cooking utensils are locked in cars and scents that might draw animals into tents or sleeping areas are eliminated, as much as possible.

I can take my children to hunter education classes so they know how to properly handle a gun. I can get them to an off-highway vehicle class or boat safety seminar, so they are prepared should their friends offer them a ride. I can teach them camping skills, utilizing leave-no-trace principles, and discuss what they might do if their boat capsizes, if they are caught in a lightning storm, if they encounter a bear or cougar or if they run out of water in the desert. I can teach them to swim at an early age.

Still, who can account for the almost impossible odds of an 11-year-old boy being killed by a bear on the lookout for human food?

The world, indeed, is a dangerous place. And there are no guarantees for any of us, whether we sit in our homes, walk our neighborhoods, camp in the woods or take an ordinary airplane ride on a sunny September morning.

The biggest tragedy of all would be letting the weekend's loss keep us from experiencing all the good that comes from being outdoors.

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* TOM WHARTON can be contacted at wharton@sltrib.com. His phone number is 801-257-8909. Send comments about this story to livingeditor@sltrib.com.