My son is leaving on a camping trip in a few minutes and there have been Black Bear Sightings...?

Question

What should you do if you encounter a bear???

Answer 1

Depends on the behavior of the bear. Best thing to do is back away slowly -- don't run, because the bear will go into a chase mode. If the bear attacks, curl up on the ground, protecting your belly and head and play dead.

The best thing to do in bear country is to learn to avoid them. When hiking, make a lot of noise -- we're not their normal prey and they will make every effort to avoid you if they know you're coming. Don't wear strong deoderant or perfumes, because the scent may make bears curious. Take all your food in the evening, place it in a plastic bag and tie it up at least ten feet in the air, suspended between two trees. This will keep animals (not just bears) out of your food, and if you keep it a decent distance away from camp, it will minimize the chance animals will check your tents out.

Answer 2

The best defence is to avoid the bear. Two years ago I was running on a trail and came within 6 feet of running into the side of a black bear that emerged from thick bush and crossed the trail in front of me. A few seconds later I encountered her cub coming up the trail toward me. Fortunately the bear took no notice of me, but I don't think that it would have been impressed if I ran into it. Just like driving it is not a good idea to travel faster than your sight range. In dense bush it is better to proceed slowly and look around. Also, look for fresh bear droppings as a sign that a bear is near and steer clear. If the bear attacks, pray fast. You can fight, but if the bear is determined you don't stand much of a chance. There is a local tale of an Inuit woman that survived a polar bear attack (much worse than a griz) by putting her arm down it's throat. According to the tale the bear couldn't breath and choked to death. You have to be pretty brave to try that, but as a last resort why not?

Answer 3

In parts of the Canadian Rockies there have been early snow falls, trust me there was 18" to 2ft in the townships just o/s Jasper National Park earlier this week and some is still there, the snow fall is sitting on the deciduous trees before they have had a chance to shed them properly, the bears haven't yet gone to hibernation so some are moving into the back yards, for food I've had a confirmed sighting from a relative on the spot of black bear barely three hours ago, his dog bark to give a warning. Never push your luck although the accepted wisdom is that if a black bear goes for you fight back, you MIGHT have a chance, if its a grizzly, play dead because if you dont you will be ! Take bear spray, and make noise, if you haven't got warning bear bells, put some pebbles in a drinks can to make an instant early warning system, they wont bother you if you give them a chance to get away first. NEVER leave food stuffs near your camp site or vehicle. Size counts in the final fight or flight stakes, if an attack looks likely and its easier said than done and I've never got to this stage, make your self look bigger than the bear, open your coat like a flasher, this is no time to get embarrased, and hope the bear is impressed, stay in a group as well to look big but really you shouldn't put yourself in danger Hope this helps PS It might be near winter but my relative has just confirm that after first posting this answer he's seen a black bear sow with two cubs near his back yard .. think I might call of the camping trip !

Answer 4

The first answer seems best to me. Store ALL food far from your camp site, even toothpaste. Bears can smell food you would not notice, and it will attract them. If a bear smells food, get away from the food and let the bear have it. If it comes toward you anyway, slowly back away to stay clear of the bear, but don't run, no matter how close it may get. Running just triggers the chase response of the bear. Shout, throw rocks and sticks, but don't run.

The play dead idea is a last resort, if the bear actually is attacking you and you cannot fight it off or get away. In that case, letting it bite you will usually make it not kill you. As I understand it, bears don't like fresh meat, so after taking a bite, they will drag the kill away and cover it with leaves or something and leave it. I would not want to try to play dead while a bear takes a bite out of me and drags my body away, but I have heard that some people have survived this way.

This is what I have heard. I have never encountered a bear in the wild myself.

Answer 5

I have been camping for 30 years (actually just got back from a trip on Monday). I have only had one "run in" in all that time even though I have been in areas where sightings have happened while I was in the area. And even in my one experience I never saw the bear, just heard the people in a nearby camp clanging pots and pans.

The best advice that I ever heard was from a seasoned hiker in Montana that wore little bells so that bears would hear her coming so she wouldn't walk up and startle a bear.

For the most part bears want no part of humans other than their food. Every member of my extended family has a story of bears in their campsite and they always revolve around food in some way and they have never been attacked. Most sites in California have bear boxes attached to the tables. I don't know what state you are in but suspending food in a tree is the safest way to keep the danger at bay if bear boxes aren't available. The bear will try and get it and leave if it fails. Bears don't generally look at humans as a food source by eating them, they just know that humans always have food nearby.

I really wouldn't worry about it. He has a better chance of being struck by lightning than being attacked by a bear. Hell, he has a better chance of dying by bee sting than bear attack. Not to give you more worries but the chances are so slim even with a bear in the area, let your boy go have a great time and don't put fear into him by worrying about a bear attack. Nature rules!

Answer 6

Black bears are called the invisible bear for a reason. They do not want to be around people! They will come in for food but if this is an organized camping trip, the guide will know about proper food handleing and all. I think it is 23 people have been killed by black bears in 100 years (Discovery Channel). I live in the heart of PA bear country and have never had any incidents and neither has anyone I know. Strike that, they love to tear up garbage cans and dumpsters but people NO!

Answer 7

Stephen Herrero is a professor at the University of Calgary and has studied bear attacks.
http://www.amazon.com/Bear-Attacks-Causes-Avoidance-revised/dp/158574557X/sr=8-2/qid=1158955385/ref=sr_1_2/002-3025366-2537662?ie=UTF8&s=books

It depends on the type of bear and the nature of the encounter.

Black bears tends to be shy and will usually exit the area. Black bear attacks happen, and black bears have been known to stalk and hunt people - very rare, but it happens. If you play dead in this situation you will be dead. You want to fight back and make a lot of noises, etc. The hunting black bear wants an easy meal and not a struggle.

There are two types of grizzly bear attacks. And you need to take different approaches, depending on the type of attack.

If it is daytime and you stumble upon a grizzly bear that charges, chances are you have gotten too close to the bear, or its cubs, or a stash of its food. It doesn't want to eat you - it wants to beat you. If you can't get away this is the time to play dead.

If it is night time, the grizzly is out looking for food and it does so opportunistically. It will attack, and kill, and eat. This is not the time to play dead - see previous note about black bear attacks. They want an easy meal, not a meal that fights back. You can scare grizzlies away from a nighttime attack.

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In most American woodlands that have black bear populations, I would be more concerned about feral dogs, ticks, and chiggers - and not bears.

Answer 8

Black bears should always be considered unpredictable and potentially dangerous. A black bear will usually detect your presence and flee the area before you notice unless the bear has been conditioned to people and their foods.


If a black bear is visible, but not close, alter your route so that you will move away from its area.
If a black bear approaches, do not run. Remain calm, continue facing the bear and slowly back away. If the bear continues to approach, try to group together and pick up small children. Try to scare the bear away by shouting and acting aggressively.
If a black bear attacks, it is suggested to fight back using everything in your power fists, sticks, rocks, and E.P.A. registered bear pepper spray.

Answer 9

If there was a bear sighting it will likely be taken care of b4 you get there,


do not sleep with food.

Answer 10

Have friends in Canada and they told me..do this..Walk slowly and sing very quietly and usually the bear will just go the other way. Hope they are right!