Bear Encounters

“Just out of curiosity, is there anyone out there that has come close to, or actually had, an encounter with a bear? Reason for asking is that I am curious as to what one should do if/when they come across a bear? I would like to expand my hiking/camping outside of the lower portions of Michigan and feel that I need more education about Mr. Brown. (Or Mrs. with Jr.)”

“I have yet to see a bear in the wild.

I am prepared though. I recommend reading, "Bear Attacks, their causes and avoidance", by Steven Herrero. It is a good read and very informative.

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/09411308”

“That is a great book. My Bible for operating in bear country while living in AK. His research predicts episodes like the New York baby snatching when black bears are habituated to eating human food.”

“I read "A Walk in the Woods" by Bill Bryson who references Herrero's work and it scared the #&%!$ out of me. I will check the library and read it myself. Maybe it really isn't all that bad.”

“The key is knowing the situation in which you encounter the bear and what kind of bear it is. Black bears and Grizzlies behave differently. Polar bears are bad news for us. They like to eat us.

Don't become associated with food is the biggest key. Don't smell like food, and don't be around bears that are habituated to getting food from humans. Always fight back against a black bear.

Only fight back against a Grizzly if it hunted you and wants to eat you. If you have surprised a Griz and it makes a false charge, be submissive and back out, don't look it in the eye. Fall down and play dead with a Griz only if knocked down, and roll up into a fetal position, protecting your vital organs and soft parts.

Food, food, food. Control your food, and avoid situations were you make a bear defend its territory, or surpise a Griz. Bear attacks are virtually nonexistent in Denali where they have made bear cannisters and food lockers manditory.”

“I had always heard that playing dead was the best defense against bear attacks. After reading the book I learned that the best defense against Black Bears is to fight.

Actually the best defense against black bears is food odor elimination and proper food storage. I also like the analogy of bears to people. Some bears are just crazy.”

“Thank God for REI's return policy. I think I will go there tomorrow, give back all gear, (except for maybe my air mattress) and take up sewing.”

“Bear Story.

This is an unusual bear story, but this area is has been undergoing a drought condition for two years and both food and water are in short supply. I mainly wanted to direct you to this site.

I'm going up there next weekend so I am really going to be careful. I have a bear cannister and really prefer it to counter-balancing.”

“I would like to get one. Counterbalancing is a pain, and I am usually not satisfied with the results.”

“I've seen black bears several times, seen sign of them several more and never had a problem. I've only seen grizzlies a couple of times and only at a distance. I have to admit, I don't sleep very deep in bear country, but then I don't sleep very deep when I'm camping either.”

“I've had plenty of Black Bear encounters in the Smokys.
Only one where I was scared, but several where I was very very carefull.
The one where I was scared makes for a good fireside story.
I don't know which was more scared, me or the bear.”

“I am really sorry I asked this question now....REI opens at 10:00 AM on Sunday, and I will be in the door at 10:01 AM. Like I said, taking up sewing here...thanks, Phil, for the Website. Just peachy...and Stove Stomper? Tell me that story when I get back from REI. I am gathering from the stories, that if it is your time to go, you will go. So far, it's been no ones time. Thank God.”

“I don't worry about bear as much as I do cougar.”

“For God's Sake Pathman...are there cougars out there too? Man oh Man...”

“Lastyear on the Superior Hiking Trail (Minnesota) a black bear spent several minutes doing slow bluff charges at my 18 year old daughter and I on top of Moose Mountain. Talking, looking big, and even the flash of the camera twice did not scare it off. It stood 15 feet away licking its lips. Actually, this black bear acted semi-tame. I prefer the wild ones which run at the first sight, sound or smell of a human. The bear spray gave me the courage to stand between the bear and our food laden packs on the ground. Running away can provoke a bear into an attack. If it would have come 3 feet closer, I would have discharged the bear spray in its face.

Get the bear spray.”

“While I’ve only seen one black bear while backpacking I have seen many in my yard, walking down the street in front of my house or just around the neighborhood, so I have to think bear every day. If you are worried about coming upon a bear while hiking, make noise. Bears I’ve seen will change direction and give me a wide berth after I make noise. When you see a bear, if you do not see any cubs look up! Most of the cubs I have seen have been in the trees while mom is still on the ground, by the time you have noticed the bear you have already made some noise, which has sent the cub or cubs up a tree. There was a story in the local newspaper about a counselor in a summer camp near me who tried to chase a bear out of the garbage. When the bear became angry and came at him he climbed a tree, then the bear became very, very angry and followed him up the tree beat him up bit and climbed over him and farther up the tree to her two cubs who were in that same tree. Like others have said keep a clean camp and no food in your tent it is probably the most important thing to do. It always amasses me when I hear of some one complain about a bear coming on their deck and getting their bird feeders, but it never occurs to them that if you get rid of the bird feeders you get rid of the bear.

Birdfeeder = Bearfeeder”

“I don't worry about bear as much as I do cougar."
Pathman
10:11:55 PM
08/24/02


That seems odd. Cougar attacks are even rarer than bear attacks.

In two of the three published bear attacks in Arkansas within the last 20 years only one involved improper food handling. Bear hunting is legal here so human habitated bears don't last long.”

“Around here, I think a cougar attack is more dangerous than a bear attack, that's all.”

“I don't consider bears to be dangerous. I think I could take one in a fist fight.”

“Pathman,I bet you look a lot tastier to a cougar than you do to a black bear.”

“Phil that was some story!! Have not been to San G. in a long time, but heard the bears there are getting fearless. Now I'm certain.
Getting ready to do my Yosemite trip and have had one guy drop out because of the bear factor.
I made the mistake of sleeping tentless next to a large downed tree down wind of my food canister. The bear came over the log en route to my food and landed square in the middle of my back!! Knocked the wind out of me and I was sure he had broken my sternum. He kept on going after "slimming" my coffee cup that was setting on a rock. I recovered in minutes from the shock of the impact with no broken bones. Sure glad it was over in a second not like this poor guy trying to get his stuff back.”

“Yes, the bears in the San Gorgonio Wilderness this year are turning into a problem. They are not afraid of humans any more. Two weeks ago a young bear walked into our camp and was not frightened easily. I think he finally left because he didn't think he could get any our food.

I'm going again next weekend and will be as bear safe as ever.”

“Hey Folks,
At Camp Lejeune , N.C. where I'm stationed at we have a large black bear population and some of the largest black bears in the world. Also me being from the mountains of N.C. a stones throw from the GSMNP I have had a number of encounters. One so close that I coulda kissed it on the lips and the other I could have patted it on the head. The first one I just froze because I just wasn't ready for the surprise wake up and froze. As soon as he realized what i was he hauled butt outta there. Then the other time a friend and I were out fishing on a local creek When we heard something walking thru the woods towards us, so we shut up and just waited to see what it was and we had the bear walk out on a trail two feet from me. My buddy was getting ready to start swimming when I started talking to the bear like it was dog, kinda like "hey pooch what are ya doin" kinda thing. I guess the conditions were just right so the bear couldn't smell us so when I spoke to the bear it kinda sqealed, turned, ran into a tree, then disappeared into the woods. I guess I caught it by surprise that time. but i see bears all the time. If i see them before they see me I just either make alot of noise all of a sudden or just stop and let them go. Just depends on how close they are. Not a good idea if you can help it to surprise any creature close up. Fight or flight is a natural instinct for animals as well as humans. Clean camp is a big factor.”

“I have seen many blacks and one grizz. IMHO, it depends on where you encounter a bear as to what measures you need to take. for instance, in yosemite, the bears are VERY use to people and need more coaxing to shoo them away. In an area that the bears are not habituated, the story will be different. STUDY what to do. And as said before ALWAYS camp as if them bears will be a commin in camp!”

“Fresh Denali grizz print, size eight boot.

”

“Does it bother you that the image is so big?

personally, I've been worried by moose several times in Fairbanks. Especially skiing at night. We had a couple bolt across in front of us. Nothing like moose eyes reflecting in your headlamp. One paralleled the trail for a couple of hundred yards mountain biking, it was definitely defensive.

Our dumb golden retriever bore moose scars, too. Lost a few teeth.”

“Here are a couple. I'm not sure how well you'll be able to see them until after I post.

”

“Apparently, not at all.

”

“pathman why do you make this so big?”

“'cause I don't know how to make it small. I'll just post links. It seems to depend on the resolution of my webshot image.”

“Great book, Never been close enough to one to worry about it, but this book will teach you a lot about them.. (true storys of bear attacks, and the lessons learned..)”

“Well, it's been a topic b4, here's my story again.

The Bear

Click on the picture to read the story

Every word is true, fear them.”

“I saw a ton of bears when I lived in Alaska. I got to the point where it was like seeing squirrels, and I only had to fire my gun once (in the air of course). Saw a few on the AT in the smokies, and everyday when I look in the mirror in the morning!

Oh, I saw a Jerbear once too.”

“Like crazied humans,a beer offering usually gives you time to escape.”

“Pathman:

To make the image smaller, you can specify the width and height in the img tag. If you only specify one of the dimensions, the other will scale to the same aspect ratio automagically.

Example:

<img src="http://community.webshots.com/rs1/2/82/5/37728205OAQAwI_ph.jpg" width=400>

The above tag, embedded:
”

“Hesperia,Ca.Aug.25;"An eight hourstandoff with a stubborn bear ended Sat.when aofficials shot and kiied the bear as it tried to run away,officials said."”

“I had a "bear" encounter yesterday in the Smokies.

The bear was laying down and took of running when I came along on the trail. It knocked down 3 or 4 bushes along the way.

It was FAST!!”

“that's cool”

“You're lucky it wasn't running at you.

I read in a bow hunting mag, where a hunter arrowed a bear...it took off into the trees...knocking down 3" diameter trees, clearing a 50 foot path....that's frigging strong.”

“I just got back yesterday from hiking the JMT 8/7-8/24 (AWESOME TRIP!!).

8/7 I saw the bear that swiped another hikers dinner-- on my FIRST day! (between little YOS & Sunrise)

8/8 The next day ran into ?the same bear along a stream with a cub!! (hopefully the photo of momma will come out)

8/18 A Bear ate HALF of my food N of McClure meadow (all of my snacks, gum, clif bars, oatmeal, rice crispees treats & granola bars). This was all in an "Ursak TKO"---I don't think it even bothered smelling the Garcia can. I got up at 4 to go...heard a little munching (like a mouse), turned my headlamp on, and holley crap-there it was, well into the bag. I never heard my pots clank or anything! It took a good 15/20 min to "scare" it off-clanked my trekking poles/waved lights/threw rocks NEAR it. It left 1 clif bar, a few emergen-c drinks, a couple fruit leathers and most of my advil/tylenol/pepcids. I reported the incident (of my stupidity) at Mcclure station.

?8/21 Dusk S of Forester pass I heard what I thought was a rodent around the top of my pack, turned in my hammock to look/throw something-and just saw a huge brown bear rump running away through camp (quiet buggers!). I think it must have smelled the trash I had kept in there during the day-triple wrapped to boot!

Wonderfull beasts!

Camel”

“I saw a black bear this morning and got paid for it.
:P

I got within about 30 feet before we saw each other. The big #&%!$ took off running. I had my camera in my hand but didn't think quickly enough to get a picture.”

“How'd you get paid for that?”

“and where the heck were you this morning where there are bears?”

“Violin, are you bear whoring?”

“Violin, are you bear whoring?”

“Damn I hate when that happens.”

“I had to inspect a 600 acre parcel in NW NJ. I got paid to hike around and look at wildlife and stuff.

nyah, nyah, nyah, nyah-nyah.”

“Violin, have I ever mentioned that you #&%!$ #&%!$?”

“cooooool! and by the way, #&%!$ you! HA! just wanted to get in on the action...”

“Cool deal, Violin! The only Black Bear I've seen in the wild was in High Point, NJ...”