Wolf/Bear encounters?

2sweed, that's horrifying. There's no way I could stay that calm if I were in your situation.

I've camped in an area with bears. I actually got in trouble by a park ranger for not hiding my food better because bears were becoming a huge problem in the area. |
I like to think that I could make a really loud noise and scare the bear off, but I'm afraid I would just be paralyzed by fear. There's only one way to find out, and I really hope that never happens.

 

...Of course, it is GMO - never mind there isn't anything wrong with GMO. They are in many ways safer than the natural stuff, but you know folks will as ever demonize what they misunderstand. I mean I've helped make GMO things - it isn't a scary procedure make of radiation and prays to Cthulu. That said if people are feeding the bears that is a large part of the problem - do not feed the bears.

I doubt that was the mother bear - if it had been she would have attacked you regardless. A female bear with cubs can and will attack a male despite the difference in size and strength. Most likely it was a juvenile with little experience of humans and dogs. I will say that you guys must have a lot of bears about to be so cavalier about them in general.

 

The thing is playing dead is actually a horrible idea depending on the bear - and worse being mammals they can learn new forms of behavior depending on circumstances. So I man it probably isn't the best idea to immediately fall on the ground and hold still. For one thing it just saw you standing up, for another you still smell fresh, and for a third if it takes a bite you're in a world of hurt.

 

I like camping in (black) bear country. [Grizzly bears are a different matter.] Last year we had four (black bears) come into camp during our stay - one male, and later a mom and two cubs. If you are going to be in bear country you need to be "Bear Wise" and know your outdoor etiquette and be well versed in taking care of yourself. That also means you know how to manage your camp site - including cooking, disposing of left overs, garbage and grey water. I do carry bear spray and took a mini course in how to use it and I gave up my Fox Fire whistle for a screamer.

Normally - you shouldn't have any problems with bears unless you or someone else has done something they shouldn't have - like feed a bear. And playing dead? You better be a really good actor. All the material that I have read says, "You fight like hell" - as if your life depended on it - and it just might.

 

I think that's kind of the best advice period following this: "Don't get in the situation in the first place." I mean if you can hopefully not attract or agitate the nearby wildlife then don't. However, if you do end up in a bad situation then don't be passive unless you have to.

 

Good stuff Pathfinder...

We need to remind ourselves that a fed bear - is a dead bear.
Nuisance bears are not preserved they are shoot - dead.

The standard safety rules always apply. [If you are not sure check a web site of your local authority.]

PRACTISE NO TRACE CAMPING

Be bear aware

Check with authorities about bear activity in your area
Keep your camp site spotless
Put food [including dog food and dishes] in the trunk
or hang in an appropriate manner in a tree
NO FOOD, tooth paste, deodorant and the like in a tent EVER
Clean food preparation areas [table etc.] with bleach or pinesol at the end of the day

Some say placing fabric softener cloths around will detour bears and other creatures
Dispose of grey water in outhouses or some distance from camp site [in one place only]
Cook food away from tent area especially fish [not in the tent]
Carry a whistle and have bear spray [know how to use it and when] on your belt - have a plan

Be vigilant

BUT - let's be sensible... Really...how many bears have you seen or had an encounter with?

close enough AND ANOTHER BUT - the creatures that cause most problems around camp are mice, red squirrels, AND raccoons. "They don't wear a mask for nothing!" Oh yeah - people they can be a pain in the but too.

 

That...was...a...very...close call. You are describing the behaviour of a predator bear [on the hunt] - one that is very dangerous. Most bears if they come on the scene will make a pocking or huffing sound. They will paw the ground and make short lunges at you but not normally charge. Making yourself look bigger, shouting, throwing rocks [it worked], blowing a screamer [loud whistle] would normally work. BUT, as you said the bear was circling and refusing to leave so it puts this creature in a different category. It could well be that he was protecting his kill - bears are ferocious adversaries if they think you are going to take their food.

So...the question might be. What did he learn and will do differently next time? Carry bear spray [and know how to use it], be with a companion, check at the office and enquire about bear activity in the area, wear a bear bell and make a little noise - just a few suggestions.

Oh...and another thing. Bears climb trees.

It was a smart move of your friend to leave in an opposite direction and he had a cell phone that worked. I am so happy to hear the outcome was in your friends favour [Canadian spelling].

Thank you for sharing this with me. That's a story he will be able to tell for a long time.

 

Come to think of it...I've done some zany things too...like paddle my canoe across the lake in the middle of a thunderstorm. I'm glad that your friend didn't wound the bear. A wounded bear is ten times more ferocious. Whatever the case he now has a story that he can tell people who will listen intently to his adventure.

 

I never could convince myself to purchase and inflatable boat. Of recent date there have been a lot of technical advances making them more durable and technically sound. I watched a fold up canoe demonstration once and shook my head as I watched the guy put it through various tests.

We have some white water rafting companies near by and it is just fascinating to watch those things crash and smash down the river. Truthfully? I don't want to confess that I am a coward [don't tell anyone]- but, somehow you will not see me in one of those things.

If you like stand up comedy check out John Pinette - goes camping (on the net) he talks about his experience with rafting.

 

I only had the one encounter that I mentioned in the nature section. One time when we were in the interior of Algonquin we heard the wolves howl all night; the one and only time that has ever happened.

 

I've had a few encounters with black bears in Montana and most recently in Redwood National Park. These bears are not habituated to people so the story will be different if you came across a particularly friendly bear - or one that follows you, as was the case in a recent death. In one case, a group of us came upon a mother with a couple of cubs. They were on the other side of a forest opening so we saw each other at quite a distance. Rather than running, which seems to be more common, mom chased the cubs up a tree then walked around underneath them.

We watched for awhile then moved on. I would NOT recommend trying to see how close you can get. There is a fine line that if you cross it, the bear may run you down. In the Redwoods, a couple hiking ahead of us returned after seeing some bears. They told us the bears ran rather than holding their ground. With that info, we proceeded. We found that the bears had been eating blackberries.

On our return, we came across a bear that was well ahead of us and just off the trail in a blackberry bush. It was getting dark and the bear didn't see us. We had to go past the bear or a detour would have been in order. Knowing that we were at the same elevation and the bear was a good distance away, I just yelled. As is typical, the bear took off down hill as fast as it could. Don't scare a bear when you are downhill from it. It might, unintentionally, come right toward you. In general, black bears are looking for food. They might think your food is their food, but they don't normally think of you as food. Grizzly bears are an entirely different story. Outside of Canada and Alaska, you aren't likely to ever see a grizzly. They are around, but they make themselves very scarce. In Glacier National Park where you might see one, it is highly recommended that you wear "bear bells". These are just small bells that make noise as you hike. Grizzlies hear them and get away before you come upon them. Still, grizzlies are unpredictable - there are no guarantees.

 

Aside from coming upon the occasional bear while hunting, camping, or just out riding my horse; I really have not had much experiences with bear. The ones that I did see usually stood up and looked at me and then left (thankfully). When we lived in the country, we heard the coyotes crying and howling at night all of the time. In the spring, when they had the litters of coyote pups, we could hear the little ones out there yipping and practicing their little howls. Even though we knew how deadly the coyotes could be to creatures like rabbits, chickens, and even small dogs or cats; it was hard not to enjoy hearing those pups in the spring.

Sometimes, they coyotes would follow us through the woods, which was pretty scary. I remember being out horseback riding with my daughter, and we had a small pack of coyotes following us down the trail. Every now and then, we would see one of them running through the woods, or sometimes they would start howling mournfully, which can set your nerves on edge really fast. We were very thankful when we finally made it out of the woods and back onto a regular road!