NATURAL RESOURCES BOOK REVIEW.

``Don't Get Eaten''

By Dave Smith (The Mountaineers Books, 2003, $6.95)

I'm not sure whether it's a bad thing if, like a French tourist in 1983, you walk within 6 feet of a wild bull buffalo to have your photo taken by friends, and you're killed.

Like a fella here at the office likes to say, that's called thinning the herd.

So, on its face, the idea of a book on how one can avoid being eaten by black bears, grizzlies, buffalo, cougars, coyotes, javelinas, moose and wolves is ridiculous. Staying away from them solves just about every problem, and a .45 at your side probably takes care of the rest.

However, what makes this handbook a good read is its debunking of numerous popular outdoors myths, such as menstruating women attracting bears or the value of climbing trees to escape.

It also is full of tips on what to do if you're attacked - most along the lines of ``Many hikers carry a walking stick; it could be used to wallop a cougar.'' Uh, thanks for the insight.

- Michael A. Anastasi

ON THE INTERNET

--Please touch the trout: Credit has to be given to the guy who operates the Trout World Web site (www.troutworld.com) for his honesty. He doesn't hide the reason he hawks T-shirts for 16 bucks a pop.

``This (site) isn't free and I'm not rich,'' the promo says. ``So wear them.''

And why not give some free advertising to a shirt that wears the slogan ``Touch my Trout.''

Seriously, this is a colorful, fun Web site worth browsing. The state-by- state updates include California-related links, and there are plenty of trout and salmon articles in the news section.

And there's always the discussions forum, which includes ``General Trout Talk'' and ``Fly fishing'' to swap stories and ideas.

--Swim, bike and run: Perhaps those hiking trips to the back country and those long bike rides along the coast can help you run with the stars. Information and registration forms for this weekend's Nautica Malibu Triathlon at Zuma Beach is online at www.nauticatriathlon.com.

Among the celebrities scheduled to appear are actors David James Elliott, William H. Macy, Tate Donovan and '80s icon Jon Cryer. Tom Arnold will be master of ceremonies for the event, which includes a half-mile swim in the Pacific Ocean, an 18-mile bike ride on Pacific Coast Highway and a four-mile run. Cost is $85.

- Chris Cocoles

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ON THE TUBE