Canadian black bears

“I posted a link a couple days ago to a forum with the following, but am posting it separately in case anyone is going to western Canada.

"One of the most striking things about black bears is the great divergence they show in behavior in different geographical areas, despite a basically similar appearance and size. In most places, black bears are the least dangerous of all bears, but in some areas they are the most dangerous--comparable to a jaguar or tiger. Black bears are virtual harmless along the Eastern Seabord of the U.S.

"When you get to the great north woods of Canada, you would think you were dealing with a totally different species. From Northern Quebec to the Pacific Coast in British Columbia, and up to Alaska, black bears are a significant danger to the unwary and unarmed. The risk rises dramatically as you cross Canada from east to west, though deadly predatory incidents have occured in every province in this area. There are at least ten times as many fatalities and serious maulings in Alaska and Canada as there have ever been in the U.S. in modern times.

"In recent years, virtually all such incidents have taken place north of the U.S. border. In Alberta, there is a death or serious mauling every year from black bears (about the same rate as for grizzlies). In British Columbia, the viciousness of the northern black bear reaches a grim crescendo with 5 serious maulings and deaths from black bears for every one from the grizzlies.

"The black bears are primarily active in the northern inland areas and grizzlies mostly cause trouble in the coastal areas. Black bear attacks are rare on the coast and virtual non-existant on the offshore islands. Although the island bears are just as wild as their inland brethern, they are remarkably tolerant towards humans and are sometimes even friendly. Again, in terms of behavior, they seem like different species.

"The worst area seem to be in the northeast of B.C., especially in that part near the Alaska Highway. Predatory behavior and attacks are quite common, and all black bears in this area should be regarded as potentially extremely dangerous. I am writing this lengthy message as a warning to readers on here who plan to drive up the Alaskan Highway. Under no circumstances should you ever approach a black bear (or grizzly, for that matter, though in B.C. black bears are the more dangerous species) or allow a bear to approach you. If you go camping or hiking even in designated parks along the Highway, get advice from the rangers (in Canada called Conservation Officers) and do not go for even short walks without being armed in some way, and DO NOT GO ALONE!

"Just last year, a black bear killed two people and injured five others in Laird Park near the Highway in B.C. just south of the Yukon border. At the least, you should have a large-sized can of bear spray, a strong and heavy walking stick and a big Crocodile-Dundee type hunting knife on your person. I have read numerous reports on recent incidents in this area, and they are chilling. People used to the mellow and gentle U.S. bears have commented on how similar the physical appearance of these bears is, but how different it is what you see in their eyes.

"The U.S. bears have a warm, shy, gentle and friendly look in their eyes, but these Canadian northern wilderness bears have a cold, calculating look of determined ferocity in their eyes that freezes the blood of those who see it. These bears may try to silently sneak up behind you, charge suddenly from ambush, or just circle in the woods around you like a shark. When they decide that you are prey and they are going to take you, they often approach with a slow but relentless pursuit that can be extremely difficult to turn away. Even bear spray often works only temporarily, which is why you need something else for backup.

"I read one incident where a man threw his hat at the bear to temporarily distract it. It worked, the bear wasted precious time in savagely and viciously tearing the hat to shreds. The man had sprayed the bear twice with bear-spray, yet it still came back to try and get him. Fortunately, he reached his truck before the bear closed in again. Please keep in mind that even a small black bear can easily overpower a man weighing twice as much. Some tourists at a resort once saw a big blackie lift up a metal cover on a garbage dump weighing over a ton and toss it six feet to one side with just a shove of one paw.

"A battle was once observed long ago in Alaska between a female black bear weighing 350 pounds and a male grizzly weighing 700 pounds. She won the fight, although she was mortally wounded in the process. It is hard to verify such stories, but Yellowstone rangers once put some black bear carcasses on a feeding platform for grizzlies, and the grizzlies would not go near them until they smelled noticeably of decay and the grizzlies could be sure they were dead.

"Grizzlies have an aristocratic contempt for black bears, and love to bully them and even prey on them at times, but they always do their attack by surprise from ambush---grizzlies seem reluctant to try to take on a black bear in a fair fight.
All the more reason humans should take a black bear seriously!

"All is not hopeless, predatory black bears often underestimate humans and have been killed with knife-slashes to the throat or even a large rock or heavy stick to the skull. If this is not the case though, you could be killed very quickly unless you have a gun. The more prudent bear planning to eat a man will get him down and grab him in iron jaws by the back of the neck and shake hard, that usually does it right then. A less skilled predator will just start eating the human alive without bothering to kill him---horrible as it sounds, you can let the beast chew on one arm while you slash his throat with a knife in the other, lives have been saved this way.

"If a bear is seriously after you, you can expect to fight to the death, yours or his. It is very difficult to dissuade or shake off a predatory black bear, but it has been possible to temporarily make him back off by threatening him with a stick or spraying him at close range--thus buying precious time. One man, before he used the spray, had such a bear rise up and look him directly in the eyes at close range. He could see in the bear's eyes what it intended to do to him, and it made his soul quake--he never had experienced such terror before (or since) in a long adventurous life! Fortunately, the overconfident bear had positioned himself perfectly for a snoot-full of hot-pepper spray and the man drove off the creature long enough to get away.

"Please take SERIOUSLY the threat posed by a predatory black bear of the great northern wilderness! A man-eating tiger is no more determined or deadly. Once such a bear has tasted human flesh, he will often try to stalk and kill every human he can find in the vicinity and cache the bodies for his food supply. In one horrible incident a few years ago, a black bear overpowered and killed (the evidence indicated the victim tried fighting back) a teenager who was fishing along a stream. He then killed two more young men who were looking for the first one. Apparently, he snuck up behind them by stealth and knocked them down, then broke their necks in his jaws. The fourth teenager who was waiting in his car, realised something had gone terribly wrong when none of the others showed up and went for help. Almost certainly he would have been the fourth fatality if he had tried looking for the others. They found the bear standing guard over the three bodies and shot when he started to charge.

"A point that should be obvious from all this is that if you have to work or travel for extended periods of time in northern B.C. or Alberta in deep forested wilderness, you had damn well better take along adequate firearms and be prepared to use them anytime. You will sleep in your tent with that gun beside you and loaded, and with your knife under your pillow and spay next to your sleeping bag. These black bears have taken oil exporation workers from stations in deep wilderness areas just as polar bears have from remote Arctic stations. People having to go into these areas for significant periods of time must take as great precautions as Arctic explorers do with polar bears.

"The most important precautions are: Never be alone at any time, and never be unarmed. In fact, if you were ever ordered to go into these areas without firearms or by yourself, you would be absolutely justified in refusing. The danger is terribly real and significant. Use as much caution as a diver would use with tiger sharks. The only other North American animal that is as dangerous as a fully predatory black bear is a confirmed, man-eating jaguar (or maybe a starving polar bear). It goes without saying that it is sheer madness to feed a bear along the Alaskan Highway, these animals are nothing like U.S. National Park bears; travellers have been horribly wounded for making that mistake and the bear almost always has to be quickly killed as it becomes uncontrollably aggressive."”

“WOW! as a meek-mannered Canadian, I'm impressed by Canadian black bears. I'm also afraid of them. As you all know, a 27 year-old tri-athlete was killed by one last year here in Quebec while on a training run.

I believe (having run into both) that black bears are the more dangerous (I don't even want to get into the polar bear thing) of the two main species. Black bears, for the same reason as skunks, racoons, squirrels, chipmunks and farmland deer, etc. live close to humans and learn to scavenge from us and thus lose at least some of their fear. One of the absolutely worst spots - I am convinced - in North America recently has been the Flowed Lands/Lake Colden area of New York state's Adirondack Park (no 'incidents' yet, thank God), mostly because of high bear populations and familiarisation IMHO.

The old rules remain - clean camping and creative bear-bagging. Don't let fear of bears prevent us from enjoying God's good earth and sharing it with our ursine friends (and others). Happy (and safe) trails.”

“I think bacpac could take 'em”

“Please gremlin, tell me more about how to bag a bear.

Sorry, just couldn't resist. ;)”

“That story is a buncha hype...”

“Canadian blue beer??”

“In Arkansas we have hunting seasons for black bear. Familarity with humans = death.

I do know of two attacks on humans in Arkansas over the past 20 years. Neither were fatal. Most of ours were relocated from Colorado and are very skitish. Bears are similar to humans in that their personalities can be different.

More info from the Game and Fish commission: ”

“It is true, that if you're going to play in my backyard, you had better be 'bear aware'. Should you be armed with a gun? Well, to each his own, but even in B.C., more people die of gun shots than bear attacks. Last I heard, If you are not coming here for the express purpose of hunting, you can not bring a gun. Hand guns and fully automatics are not allowed at all.

Statistics can be made to say whatever you like. Are you more likely to encounter a Black in B.C. than a Griz? Absolutely! Simply by virtue of the fact that Griz do not inhabit as much of the province and are outnumbered as much as 10 to 1 nationally. In the Rocky Mountain Parks, however, Griz have a slight edge in number. Mostly because they are more likely to be found above the tree line than Blacks and Blacks tend to stay out of their imediate ranges. Blacks are easily and frequently encountered in our urban areas by the 'unaware'.

Conversely, you could hike your whole life in B.C. and never be fortunate enough to see a Griz. I can count on one hand, the number of people I know that have actually seen one, in my 37 years of living here. And it's not getting any more likely. As recently as a couple of years ago, more Griz were hunted in B.C. each year than even exist in the lower 48.

Again, statistics can say anything. I read that you have a better chance of being struck by lightning than killed by a shark. Well, that's especially true if you golf in thunderstorms and never swim in the ocean.

So which is more dangerous, Griz or Black? I have heard that female Blacks are more likely to attack. I guess that may be true in some, or even most circumstances. Blacks are also more likely to have had previous human contact. Chance of surviving an attack? I'll take my chances with the Black, thanks.

I have personally encountered both, and let me tell you, it's two different experiences. I am certainly more acustomed to meeting Blacks, but encountering a Griz is an awsome, intimidating experience in 'any' case.

I have met Black attack survivors, and have a friend that tried to prevent a Griz from attacking a young girl, by using an axe. In one swat, he lost an ear, eye and most of his scalp. It could have removed his head. To my mind, there is no question which is more potentially dangerous.

All bears should be treated with due caution and respect. Of that there is no question. I'll leave the rest to the statistitions.”

“What happened to my link?

Bears

Back to typing 101 for me.”

“Are all Canadians this insane?



Quebecer snatches bear cub from mother

Gary Dimmock
The Ottawa Citizen

A Quebec woodsman who wanted a black bear as a pet, set out Tuesday morning and snatched a young cub from the Gatineau River -- its mother snarling from shore as Denis Ryan sped off on a Jet Ski, holding the kidnapped cub by the scruff of the neck.

The young cub, nicknamed Buddy Bear, was swimming across the river, near Wakefield's covered bridge, and was just a few feet from shore, and its mother, when it was abducted around 9: 30 a.m.

The bear managed to break free from his captor eight times by clawing at him. He tried in vain to swim to shore, only to be dragged back out into the river.

To wear out the bear, Mr. Ryan started running him over with the Jet Ski, forcing the cub's head under water.

The 55-year-old woodsman got his best grip on the cub by holding it upside down by one of its hind legs.

He then started dunking him again and again under water in a cruel attempt to drain the cub's energy.

The cub was now moaning, desperately trying to breathe.

"I just lifted him up and then I could dunk him. Then he couldn't breathe. I kept dunking and kept dunking him. Then I started to drive away," Mr. Ryan told the Citizen.

The cub, still dangling upside down by a hind leg, climbed aboard the moving Jet Ski.

In the distance, the cub's mother and sibling were looking on from the shore.

Mr. Ryan started speeding toward his home in Alcove, north of Wakefield along the Gatineau River.

This time, to stop the cub from jumping off again, he tied a rope around one of its hind legs and kept one hand on the leash, the other on the handle bars.

With the bear secured, he turned around and drove to a public landing in the heart of Wakefield. He figured a cub on the back of a Jet Ski would make a good picture for the town's newspaper.

He motioned to a passerby at the river's edge and told him to tell the newspaper, The Low down to Hull and back News, about the photo opportunity.

Just then, Buddy Bear jumped off the Jet Ski and the rope came loose.

As the cub broke free and started swimming for shore, Mr. Ryan's Jet Ski started sputtering. He was running out of gas.

The bear started swimming fast, putting 10 feet between him and and Mr. Ryan.

The bear reached shore first, just as Andrew Wilson, the newspaper's reporter, appeared on the river bank, camera in hand.

Below, Mr. Ryan jumped off the Jet Ski and tackled the bear as it tried to scramble up the bank.

"Then I tied him again and dunked him again to get the energy out of him. I tied him pretty good this time. He was so tired out," Mr. Ryan said.

Mr. Wilson fired off some photographs, then headed back to the newspaper and called Quebec's wildlife protection squad.



"It was a pretty distasteful sight. You have this man dunking this cub, basically the size of a small dog. The cub was obviously not a happy camper. It just seemed like a bad situation," Mr. Wilson said.

Exhausted, the cub lay on the river's edge, its paw tied, while Mr. Ryan flagged down a passing motorist for gas.

A friend stopped to help and Mr. Ryan later sped off to Alcove, the cub wedged under his leg to keep it from getting away.

The woodsman, who makes his living cutting and planting trees, said he intended to keep the cub on a leash at home to see if he could tame it before releasing it back into the wilderness with the hope it would return for visits.

He also said he wanted to keep the bear out of the village to spare children from being attacked.

Either way, passing motorists along the Gatineau called police, saying he was mistreating the cub.

"I could see their point of view, but from my point of view, it's one less bear in town where there are kids at school. That's not called being mean to the bear. That's called being nice to the children," he said.

"I was never mean to the bear. There was a couple of times I wanted to hit him over the head with a pipe or something but I didn't do that," Mr. Ryan said.

Once they reached the shore near his Alcove home, the bear, who was six to seven months old, ripped his leash and started clawing and biting at his captor's hands.

Mr. Ryan grabbed the bear by a hind leg again and was dragging it home when the MRC des Collines police stopped him, demanding that he let the cub go.

The police kept an eye on the bear until wildlife protection officers arrived.

The wildlife officers captured the bear and released it into the woods as an orphan near Montebello. They left plenty of food and water nearby and tagged the bear.

Quebec's wildlife protection squad is now investigating the abduction. If charged under the province's wildlife act, Mr. Ryan could face a $2,000 fine for possession of a big game animal without a permit.

Mr. Ryan has not been charged with any crime and the bear cub is now making home alone some 60 kilometres from where he last saw his family.

Mr. Ryan says if he sees more bears heading into town, he'll try to abduct them too.

"If I get a chance, I'll do it again. I think a bear would make a good pet."”

“Too bad the mother didn't rip the crap out of this moron. But then the mother bear would have shot to death and the cub would have probably suffered the same fate.

I really hate people like this. People do not deserve to live.”

“Probably not.”

“Now that guy is sick.”

“you could find 10 fukt up stories comparible to this one about Americans for every one fukt up story you could dig up about some Canadian who's flipped out.

Good post tho.”

“Oh I wasn't bashing Canada or Canadians.

This on the other hand...
”

“Seems to me the Wildlife ranger who dropped the cub off 50 miles from its mother is just as idiotic. It won't survive the winter. He should have known better.”