1ºThis post is NOT one I would repost. It talks about bear spray but it fails to give it the priority it merits. It should plainly state at the TOP -CARRY bear spray-do NOT try to stop a charging bear with a firearm. (You won't.) Keep the bear spray ready at hand (not in your oack) for a surprise encounter. In grizzly country, always make noise and be aware of wind direction. I doubt many people can instantly identify what kind of bear, btw. Nothing is more effective on bears than bear spray. Hunting guides carry bear spray. I live in Montana.
2ºMy son's teacher told her students if a bear comes near you to run and climb a tree, I told my son she was wrong and that bears normally leave you alone and are more afraid of you than you are of it. On three occasions I got to prove it to my son by running across a bear while camping. Finding ourselves too close to a grizzly once and black bears twice I threw my arms up and started yelling and running at the bears, all three times the bears hightailed it out of the area. Of course we were lucky and other variables such as scarce food sources or sickness could have made for a different outcome but for the close proximity this was the safest option at those moments. Avoid it if possible but confront if necessary is the rule I teach my kids.
3ºI couldn’t remember which way it went , but *long story short: black bears = make yourself look big, make lots of noise, even low talk to it so it knows you’re a human . Brown/grizzly bears = play dead lay on the ground on your stomach and cover your head, the bear should move on! *
And don’t do what we all wanna do and try to feed them or pet the cubs! Just don’t !!!
DoNT try to outrun either species of bears bc they are faster than you, no matter how fast you think you are. And don’t climb trees. They’re better than that than humans are as well!!
4ºBear attacks are common in some areas!! To say they're not is not accurate. I don't know why govt depts downplay this. If you get near a grizzly your dead. They are tremendous in size. Look up Bear Attacks on Wikipedia and you can read about some. In the late 90's it was estimated around a hundred a year in BC alone, that's not a few. The govt's need to relocate them to Wildlife reserves. Many missing persons that are never found are also attributed to or suspected wildlife attacks. I would not live anywhere near woods. Shoot them all.
5ºRick Gonzalez grizzlies will also think you’re a meal if you play dead and the bear is hungry. The only time it’s worth playing dead is when they’re are attacking because they feel you’re a threat. There was a case a few years back where a grizzly attacked a couple in their house and it all ended up outside. The bear took the wife, so she tried playing dead and it just dragged her off to eat her. As it turns out, the husband tried to shoot the bear, missed and killed his wife, so all in all, a bad day for everyone except the bear.
6ºGood quote:
"Trying to give a bear food or approaching cute cubs are particularly terrible ways to start an encounter."
THIS is rule number one. It should be burned into the mind of all people who take wilderness walks were theres any potential to meet a bear.
Rule two is simply back away slowly, and dont appear like any sort of threat, and dont give ANY indication you might have food or be carrying food as a really hungry bear might see you as something worth investigating if the bear should come to suspect the sandwich you're eating along the route looks good to him.
In other words, if you have food, drop it and continue to back off and out of sight. Then make haste to a safer location.
7ºI have watched and read many horrible stories about bear encounters, so this are my thoughts:
If it is going to happen....it will happen. Stay away from bears....even when you carry bear spray. But always carry a bear spray (or three)...just in case.
Don't go alone in bear areas
They run and climb trees faster than humans
Don't feed wild animals
Avoid being in bear areas at the end of Summer and beginning of Fall....bears are hungrier and more agressive...heading to their favorite spots to hybernate during winter.
Bears are part of the ecosystem but also protected because they atract tourists and generate money. Bears are more protected than tourists so avoid bears as much as possible.
Don't expose your food or garbage to bears
Hide and air tight your food and snacks. Bears are smart and have strong sense of smell. Don't risk.
Use voice of power or calming, not annoying voice....they get more irritated. Remember the lady on the beach begging to the bear to not destroy her boat?
Use your guts and pray .
And don't think you are going to be as lucky as the woman who sweetly and politely ordered to the bear to "close the door....all the way" . :)
I am so afraid of bears....I prefer to stay at home than going alone to a trail in the forest. No no and no. lol!