Be aware... stay away from a bear!
Many of us have grown up with the cuddly image of teddy bears or animated sweethearts like Winnie the Pooh but do not be mistaken by the true nature of wild bears. It might be easy for you to forget when you are walking in the woods that you are no longer in your territory. Eliminate danger and any confrontation by simply avoiding the bear! There are different procedures to dealing with bear confrontations, let me simplify it for you!
NOTE: Do not be fooled by other information! Everything you need to know is here! Trust me, I have complied hours of research and interviews with professionals about this. I have also met and read too much false information on this subject matter... WHEN IT COMES TO LIFE AND DEATH SITUATIONS, YOU WANT TO MAKE SURE YOU HAVE THE CORRECT INFORMATION!
Black Bears; are the most common species in North America. They are also unlikely to attack humans unless they are surprised, feel threatened, injured, are protecting their territory or their cubs. NEVER touch their cubs!
Simple things to do:
· Make noise when walking by talking loudly, whistling or singing every now and then. Some people buy bear bells and attach them on their rucksack or on their dogs collar when hiking with a furry companion.
· Make sure the young and weaker of the group are located in the middle. Always have one strong leader in the front and another in the back of the line.
Bear Confrontation:
You are walking in the forest and your worst nightmare comes true...you are face to face with a bear. Remain calm. There is little to worry about if you follow these instructions. Most bears will be startled by you and run away. Black bears are not intentionally searching for vulnerable people to attack, their concern it that THEY will be attacked by YOU.
If the bear lingers or approaches you:
· Talk calmly and slowly walk away. Do not run! If you run, the bear will automatically think you are weaker and an ideal prey.
· Make yourself look bigger!!! By doing this you look more intimidating and the bear with think twice before engaging in a fight with you. Put your arms in the air and if you are wearing a backpack, make sure to use it and make yourself look bigger. If in a group, gather together to make the ensemble bigger.
· If a bear runs after you, NEVER CLIMB A TREE! Black Bears are amazing and fast climbers...you are no match to their speed and sharp claws
· Some people believe the best protection against bears is carrying a riffle...if you are an amazing hunter and have a permit perhaps...but even then some hunters have shot a bear thinking it was dead and ended up being attacked. A bear can take a few shots before ever dying. I like to encourage peaceful co-habitation with nature!
Read their body language:
When a black bear blusters this is merely a warning. The bear is nervous and does not want to attack... only scare you away.
Common warnings that the bear is afraid are:
· Jaw popping (clacking teeth)
· Pounce and Blow (exhale)
· Fake charge with no attack.
We can all cohabitate peacefully together in nature. Do no fear what you do not understand, instead, come to understand what you fear. Black bears may seem like intimating and dangerous creatures, but in fact they are not... they are merely trying to live their lives. We are the visitors in their homes and they deserve to be respected and cared for.
Brown Bears:
These bears are mighty impressive creatures! Do not challenge the Grizzly or Kodiak, their sheer size and brute force is no match for you. Similarly to black bears, Grizzly and Kodiak bear behaviour will change if they are surprised, feel threatened, attacked, are protecting their territory or cubs, or they are very hungry and you are carrying food. It is imperative that you learn how to be bear cautious when you are in their territory by understanding their behaviour and learning to recognize bear warming signs!
Grizzly Bears: (Above)
A female Grizzly can weigh between 220- 770 pounds and males 330-1150 pounds. In general brown bears will flee if they are surprised, but if you come in contact with them when they are hungry or mating...the circumstances change drastically. Grizzly Bears live mostly inland away from big bodies of water near forest land and shrub coverage. They are found in the Canadian provinces of British Columbia, Alberta, Yukon, Northwest territories. In the USA: Alaska, Idaho, Wyoming, Washington and Montana.
Kodiak Bears: (Above)
A female Kodiak can weigh from 500 to 700 pounds and males 800 to 1,500 pounds. When standing on all four legs, their height can range between 3.5- 5 feet tall, standing some can reach as high as 10 foot tall! They live in Europe and North America. Kodiak bears are usually shy and avoid people.
What to do if you are face to face with a brown bear!
· NEVER RUN!
· Avoid direct eye contact! Eye contact means you are
challenging the bear.
· Make yourself look bigger. Gather together if you are in a group
· Walk away slowly if the bear is not approaching you.
· If the bear actually charges, stand your ground! You will never
be able to outrun them!
· Do not scream or yell. Speak in a soft manner.
· If you have pepper spray, be prepared to use it but make sure
you get an excellent aim if not, you have provoked the
bear even more angry now! If the bear charges more than 25
feet where you are standing, use the spray!!
The Bear has attacked you!
· Curl up into a ball on your side, or lie flat on your stomach.
· The hardest thing to ask of you: Try not to panic, remain quiet
and dead like until the attack ends.
· Make sure the bear has actually left before you try to find help.
Most attacks on humans have been caused by:
1. Females acting aggressively to protect their young cubs.
2. Hikers or camp sites have left food out or did not properly seal their food and toiletries. Bears have an incredible sense of smell. Do not take risks, hang bear bags up high and put everything and anything that has a smell however faint! Do not cook in your evening clothing, the smell remains on your clothing and bears will be tempted by the smell and find a way in your tent. Garbage and human food! PBS Station Warning: Bears becoming addicted to garbage and human food!!! Bears are becoming accustomed to human food and garbage and they become drawn to areas of human occupation. This may include backcountry campsites far from urban centres. Backpackers, camp sites and urban travellers are being warned to practise better garbage management!
3. Feeding and Mating season (May to June): In general, Black and Grizzly bears live in solitude except during breading season. The bears will become more aggressive amongst each other and towards humans during these two circumstances.
4. Garbage and human food! PBS Station Warning: Bears have become addicted to garbage and human food!!! Bears are becoming accustomed to human food and garbage and they become drawn to areas of human occupation. This may include backcountry campsites far from urban centres. Backpackers, camp sites and urban travellers are being warned to practise better garbage management!
Further information on the subject can be found at:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Bear-Attacks-Their-Causes-Avoidance/dp/158574557X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1256590612&sr=8-1
