How To Survive A Bear Attack In America
BY Herschel Smith
7 years, 2 months ago
PJM:
Make plenty of noise while you’re in the wilderness. Bears don’t like surprises, and will generally shuffle off in another direction if they hear you coming. Traveling in a group helps to make more noise. And most importantly, pay attention to the environment. If you see or hear signs that a bear is close, stay calm, backtrack, and get away from the area. If you’re camping, hiking, or otherwise visiting “bear country,” do yourself a monumental favor by packing bear spray.
In the entire article I see no mention of a rifle, shotgun or large bore revolver. Therefore, the author must be trying to get somebody killed by a bear. What else could you conclude?
I don’t even go into the woods in the Southeast without a gun, much less would I go around brown bears without one, or more.
On August 22, 2017 at 11:38 pm, Allen said:
A .44 makes a splendid noise!
On August 23, 2017 at 12:10 am, TheAlaskan said:
As you know Herschel, I always post when it’s about bears. This article could be ‘cut and paste’ right from a Ranger/Forest Service printing or their talks to the tourists up here in Alaska where all five (if you count the kodiak as a seperate species) bear species in North America are. Anybody who goes into the bush with only bear spray is a fool. Obviously, they’re thinking about bears if they bring bear spray.
I was helping my wife in a reindeer enclosure when a bull in rut started to size me up and come at me. I had a full can of bear spray and let him have it right between the eyes starting at around 25 yards…again…and again…and again…hitting him square in the face each time and he just kept coming. I ended up scaling a 12 foot fence to keep from getting gored.
Bear spray will/might get you killed. It might turn a charging bear but who’s to say without it the bears’ charge was a false charge to begin with. Bears make false charges also.
If you’re going to be in bear country, gun up
On August 29, 2017 at 11:30 am, ExpatNJ said:
Where is the info on how to help PREVENT bear attacks in the first place?
– Refrain from hiking when bears are in rut
– Don’t cook or store food in tents, campsites, or vehicles
– Seal-able garbage cans
– Stay away from AND REPORT neighbors/others who illegally feed ’em
– Report inappropriate bear activity to rangers
– [your suggestion here]
But … don’t forget a Plan B …
On August 29, 2017 at 1:33 pm, Fred said:
@expatnj,
There is no inappropriate bear activity. They live in a perfect state of nature with zero concept of sin or wrong. Everything they do is right. Having said that, it is awfully nice of you to seek help in driving them off. In most places the agency from which you might seek help will tell YOU to leave and they won’t help with bears. Even it’s private property they will simply tell you to cower in your house from the bear. Go Armed.
On August 29, 2017 at 10:31 pm, TheAlaskan said:
In southwest Alaska…roadless, tundra taiga country, the Yup’ik Eskimos as a rule, shoot any bear and cubs if they come anywhere near their village…always. Fish and wildlife never say a thing. Bears are scarce around villages.