Bear attack

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Bear attack

by Steve Ross
(British Columbia)

Hiking in bear country

I want to add some general bear safety tips and also how to deal with a bear attack. These advices will help you to minimize risk if you are hiking in bear country.

1. Keep alert, avoid surprising bears at close range. Bears tend to be more active at dawn and dusk. If you see signs of bear make plenty of noise or if you want to be on the safe side make noise regularly to alert bears. They will likely move away and you’ll never know they were in the area.

2. Keep a clean camp and cook away from your tent. Store all food away from your campsite. Hang your food out of reach of bears and store your food in plastic. Bears have keen noses and are great diggers.

3. If you come face-to-face with a bear, never run. Bears can run several times faster than humans. Move away slowly. Do not panic or make jerky motions.

4. If the bear attacks - go to the ground, cover the back of your head and neck with your hands – play dead. Do not attempt at any time to take off your backpack it will protect your back.

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Bear attack

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Bears and the the Human female connection. NEW
by: Anonymous

This is aimed at a post on here by Winyan Staz, I too have heard the same post over and over on the web for many years, we have all been told that animals pick up on the " monthly " scent of woman,We have never had any real data collected on this before until now... It seems in the wild that only Polar Bears are likely to be attracted to the " scent ", grizzly bears and black bears were noted to not care at all of the testing they did. Please review the article, its based on data conducted at Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming. With everyone using the internet these days and reading one article and claiming FACT, I think its up to us all to take the time to research and get solid factual information so we can properly inform others.Also this same test was conducted three years ago in Fairbanks , Alaska at a Wilderness Facility owned and ran by the state. they concluded the same results...... Thank you.

http://www.yellowstone-bearman.com/menstruation_data.html

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Very thoughtful comment
by: Brad

It's true. The Internet reaction has been to carry guns. Only people who don't have a clue about the actual power of firearms would say such a thing. Bear spray is THE most effective way to disarm a charging bear. We carry it always in bear country and respect the wildlife whose habitat we travel.

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The Wildlife in Your Area
by: Todd Owen

I would really like to send my prayers out to the family of the man who was killed by a bear yesterday in Yellowstone park. They have said that they found no misuse of food containers or anything that would have led the bear to attack in the way that it did.

I BEG OF ANYONE GOING INTO THE MOUNTAINS TO PLEASE RESPECT THE WILDLIFE AND TO ALWAYS ALWAYS ALWAYS CARRY BEAR SPRAY.

30 bucks are one hell of a life insurance policy against these beautiful majestic, yet DEADLY creatures.

We must remember WE are in their homes, they will defend it, just as we would our own home.

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Tips for the ladies in the wilderness
by: Winyan Staz

It has been shown that for a woman to go to the woods and camping while on her monthly moon/period is dangerious. If you do, be sure to camp inside your van or within the circle of a larger group of people where you will be safer.

The reason being, a female on her moon/period gives off the same scent as a female bear in heat to a male bear and they will come looking. When a male bear finds out there is no female bear they can become very angry and frustrated and have been known to go on rage rampages.

When I lived in Wyoming we had a number of campers killed in the Yellowstone area for this very reason. This is also one of the reasons why women all used to go to a moon hut or teepee shelter when on their moon and the rest of the people protected them while the younger girls and older women tended the needs of the little ones and the camp.

If you are alone, build a couple of fires and stay in between them. The larger the group of people, the less likely a bear will come close.

DO NOT CAMP right next to a stream or river as they are used as a highway by bears. Camp away from the water but close enough you can walk to it during the day.

Keep all food away from your sleeping area. Do not sleep where you cook or prepare food. NEVER stare directly at a preditor. Only a preditor stares and only when they are concidering attacking. Therefor, by glancing away you are showing them you are not contesting them and are looking to back away/down.

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Raad This
by: Anonymous

There is an author from British Columbia, Canada by the name of James Gary Shelton and you will find his books the best when it comes to understanding bears in general, grizzlies especially and how to defend yourself against bear attacks. There is no shortage of very good books on bears. You would only need to read three of four to come to a very much better understanding of these animals and how they act.

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no
by: Anonymous

thanks for the information but i need to know about Grizzly Bears. :(

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setting up camp
by: Anonymous

When you set up camp make sure your that it is upwind form your bear bag, latrine, and cooking area so that the bears do not catch a scent and wander through your campsite

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clarification
by: Anonymous

My name is Lyall Insull.

I have a comment on the playing dead part. This should never be used as black bear defense. It can be used to some success with defensive aggressive grizzly;s But you must turn and slowly walk away as the bear gets to within 10 feet, let the bear knock you down then play dead covering your vitals and neck. But before this happens you should use your rifle or bear spray that is a must to carry in all bear country.

The only way to get a complete bears strategy is to read the bear encounter survival guide by James Shelton the different bears all have many different types of behavior that can not be summed up and grouped together

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bear spray
by: Anonymous

Always take a can of bear spray with you in the wilderness and don't try run from the bear or you will be playing tag with him and you will be dead.

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black bears
by: Anonymous

if its black fight back
if its brown lay down all so
black bears will stock you even browns grizzlys
ok guys

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BEAR REPELLANT
by: Nomad

Have you ever seen a black bear climb a tree?I have, they can climb up about as a tree about as fast as a house cat.They can come back down almost as fast.A person could never outclimb one and the average bear,black or grizzly is said to be able to run about 35MPH.
I think the best defense would be bear spray.I found a brand on another survival site,it is called GUARD ALASKA BEAR REPELLANT.

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bears
by: bert

very good to know.

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Avoid the bear
by: Ned

A bear will attack a man if they are surprised, feel they are in danger, wish protect territory or if they have cubs. The best way to avoid danger is to avoid the bear. But if you can not avoid them, make sure they see you first.

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Your responsibility
by: Leni

When in bear country talk to local authorities about bear conditions, get good advice, use common sense,and good judgement. The responsibility for your safety is your's alone.

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good
by: Mark

When you drop to the ground when a bear attacks won't it bite you?

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Number 4 is wrong for Black Bears
by: Anonymous

you don't play dead with a Black Bear you fight back like mad or climb high-up in a Jack Pine. Grizzly Bears you can play dead with, though.

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Black bear attack - fight back
by: Dave

Hi Steve,

your comments regarding bear attacks is not completely accurate. If the bear is a grizzly bear then your comments are right on.

But the bear is a black bear then the issue becomes more complex. If you startle the bear and they have cubs then you are correct as well. However, if the bear attacks you in your camp or follows you and attacks then you MUST fight back. Otherwise, you will be a tasty snack for the bear.

Dave
United States

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Climb trees
by: Erik

Hello Steve,
great advice!

Do you know bears could climb trees? Black bears and also young grizzlies climb trees. Adult grizzlies lose much of this ability as they become heavier.

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