How to protect yourself from a bear?

Question

I'm serious. I'm going to the Bieszczady mountains where there are apparently 200 bears and not many people. I've just read that a bear in that area killed 3 years old European bison. I know that bears usually don't attack people, but if I come across such hungry beast, what is the best way save your life? They run faster than me and can climb the trees.. I don't have a gun permission. Anyone experienced?

Answer 1

Great question

I have done alot of trekking through California, Montana and Wyoming and have met Black bears (which are quite dinky and placid but can go nuts if they have babies), and have been half an hour away from (allegedly) the mother of all grizzley's whilst on a trail through Glacier National park - so some other trekkerers told me...

What the park wardens say is SING, SHOUT, MAKE NOISE...do it loudly, let them know you are there..they will get out of the way, it is a surprised bear wot will go mental and rip your little legs off..

No fun permission: anything that will confuse them and stop them in their tracks...I have been told be an native american buddy that to keep a bottle of perfume in your pocket...throw it at the ground near your feet and make the place stink: they have good noses, them bears, and a mega concentrated dose of Britney Spears "Obsessive Compulsive" is gonna give em something to think about...

Have you got a rape alarm? Def take that...you only need to distract them for a second then they will lose interest..

Stick to the trails is the most important thing, and talk to everyone you see when trekking: make sure others know where you are...

Answer 2

OK you have the "make yourself as big as you can" thing. the "make a lot of noise" thing. And even slowly step away. I say some of that works on some bears but not all bears. So, I say short of having an assault rifle with you, think outside_the_box. Have at the ready some fruit, dry salami etc. Should you run into a bear you can toss it in a direction that would give you time to seek shelter or make an escape. Second have a stun gun. It may not do anything to the body of the bear because of the fur. But if push comes to shove and the bear goes for the bite. An electric jolt to the mouth might make you less appealing as a meal. It might take more than one jolt, but I think after the 3rd time(providing you have good aim)it will get the message.

Answer 3

Depends on the species of bear. Grizzlies are the worst, with them you climb a tree. Running is useless because they can outrun a galloping horse.
With black bears you play dead because if you climb a tree you'll end up fighting a bear, up a tree.
Pepper spray is supposed to be a good deterrant, but then who wants to let a bear get that close?
They are mostly attracted by the smell of food. Never keep any food in your tent. Put it in a bag and hang it from a tree, at least 40 yards from your tent. Wash the smell of food off your hands and face after you eat and clean your teeth, they have a fantastic sense of smell.
And go on the Pill before you go, so that you don't menstruate. Take plastic bags to seal all of your waste before you dispose of it or carry it out.

If it were practical you could try the umbrella trick but its not guarenteed. You pont an umbrella at them then rapidly open and shut it; they can't figure out what it is and its supposed to scare them off.
It sometimes works with aggressive dogs but also sometimes provokes an attack! You could try painting two big round eyes on it to add to the effect.

I'm afrais there is no sure fire way to deal with the problem. One person will tell you to make a noise, another to play dead...

Good luck, and enjoy your trip!

Answer 4

Bears are most aggressive when they are surprised at a close distance or when you surprise a mother with her cubs. When you walk down trails, whistle or sing. If you think you might get tired or bored with that, wear some bells or something that will make noise while you walk. If the bears hear you first, they will likely move away. If they don't, they will at least be less likely to respond to your presence with aggression.

If there is a serious drought or other situation that may cause bears to have particular difficulty in finding food, you may wish to hold off your trip in the woods. The bears still probably won't consider you as a food item, but bears are known to be much more aggressive during hard times. The same thing goes for mating season.

If you will be camping in the woods, keep the trash picked up. Store all of your food supplies in a bag that is lifted high up into a tree with rope. If this isn't possible, store the food as far away from your camping area as possible. If you see any bears, don't approach them. If they approach you, don't run. Yell and wave your arms around. Take off your jacket and open it up to make yourself appear bigger. You can also throw the jacket at the bear for a distraction if he does decide to attack you.

Again, don't run. A bear can outsprint a horse for a short distance, and even grizzlies can climb trees to some degree. You won't get away. Your best bet is to stand your ground. Most charges by bears are bluffs. If the bear does actually attack, then your best bet is to play dead and not move until you are certain that the bear has moved on. If the bear doesn't reactt to your presence with aggression, he probably knew you were coming, and wasn't concerned. Calmly back away, but do so while still facing the bear.

Most people who are attacked by bears survive. Not because they managed to fight off the bear, but because the bear was simply defending himself from what he thought was a threat. Once the threat is gone, the bear will leave on his own. Bears very rarely look at us as a food item. Even when they have been fed by humans and lose their fear of them, they see us as a source of food, but not as food. Big difference.

You can also carry a canister of pepper gas. Make sure you get the stuff that is designed for use against wild animals to include, or be specific to, bears. It has been proven to be effective most times. It probably won't save you from an angry mother bear with cubs though. You'll want to play dead for her.

Carrying the pepper gas has another benefit, too. If you are unlucky enough to run into one of the very few bears in the world that wants to dine on human, you can spray yourself with the capsicum to make yourself taste bad. Just kidding.

Answer 5

Listen to beetles advice...I went throught bear safety training as I work as a wildlife biologist and worked up in the artctic in Alaska..his advice is basically what we were told. In addition if the bear actually approaches you or charges you....still stand your ground. Many times they will not actually come in contact with you, they will charge, almost touch you than run away. If a bear actually makes contact with you, lay on the ground on your stomach with hands over head. DO NOT SCREAM or yell, this will make the attack worse. Some bears will attack for a minute of two than fun away. If the "attack" continues for longer than 2 minutes (not that you'd be in ANY condition to keep track of time at this point!)...then and only then are you to roll over facing the bear and fight back!! I know these instructions sound kind of crazy but these are litgitimate insturctions from experts that keep hikers and oil drillers in bear country alive!! Do carry bear "mace" with you, and keep it readily available, wear on your hip on a belt, and make noise while hiking so you don't surprise anyone!!

Answer 6

i was checking out this information too, as my mates and i are going to a mountain cabin in the states in may and we thought we'd better get some advice about bears etc!

what we were told is this:

you will never be able to outrun, outclimb or outswim a bear. not every bear can climb...but every one of them can outwait you at the bottom of the tree!

never ever play dead. very occasionally a recently fed bear will paw at you before leaving you alone, but more often they will treat you as carrion.

i've been told that you should back off from the bear and if possible, remove your jacket etc and leave it in front of you. the bear will investigate this whilst you beat a hasty retreat.

apparently mint toothpaste should also be kept out of reach along with your food, as mint drives the bears mad! don't know if this bit's true tho!

Answer 7

There is no protection other than a big gun or not being in a wood with a bear. All the so called methods do not work! Why wouldnt a bear attack you. You look like steak to them!

Answer 8

Bears attack people because the bears are startled (put a bell on your pack as you hike, they will hear you coming and go the other direction); they are protecting their young (never get between a sow and her cubs!); they are territorial (back away slowly and do not make eye contact); they are hungry (do not keep food in your tent. Also, they can be attracted to your scent, including during menstrual cycle). If you are attacked, DO NOT run; play dead and pray.

Answer 9

you should walk through the woods, talking, or making noise if at all possible, this will alert the bear to your presence. Most bears are instinctively scared of humans, so letting them know you are there is a safe way to avoid scaring them and provoking an attack.
Should you come face to face with a bear, you should slowly walk away from it, dont turn and run, this will make it attack you. Walk backwards with your head slightly to the side, so you can see where you are going, and talk to the animal "good bear" "nice bear".

Bear sprays are also available at most hunting and fishing supply stores, it is basically pepper spray, and apparently works very well at keeping bears at bay.


People! bears are scavengers, they will eat you if you are "dead" anyways, plus they can tell you are alive, the only reason in the odd case that they leave you alone is becasue they ralize that they have proven to you that they are dominant, thats all, if they wanted to kill you, lying dead or not, they would!

Hope this helps!

Answer 10

You know those hand-held horns sometimes used to start races? The really loud ones that use a small canister of compressed air? The very loud and sudden noise acts as a great bear-scare tool ...... but to be on the safe side, pepper spray or not, there's really no alternative to a gun.