Bear Safety Tips
Information was found at www.ask.com. This information was written specifically for National Parks; however it has some very useful advice while out enjoying Alaska’sWilderness. From Darren Smith, Your Guide to U.S. / Canadian Parks. Even though bear attacks at the national parks are extremely rare, here are some tips to help you to minimize risk if you are traveling in bear country. How to tell a Black Bear from a Grizzly Bear. There are some obvious physical differences between the American Black Bear (Ursus americanus) and the Grizzly Bear (Ursus arctos horribilis). Color, however, is not a reliable identifying characteristic for either species. Not all black bears are black in color; they come in a various shades of brown and may even be blonde. Grizzly bears range from yellowish-brown to black. When looking from the side, a black bear has a straight facial profile (from the forehead to the nose). The same profile of a grizzly bear will have a dished out appearance. Also, a black bear will have a straighter shoulder-rump line, while the grizzly will have a characteristically large hump on its back above the shoulders. The black bear has claws which are shorter and more curved than those of the grizzly bear. Precautions in Campgrounds and Picnic Areas: Do not cook or store food in or near your tent.
Keep a clean campsite by properly disposing of garbage, washing your dishes, and wiping down table tops.
Hang food and anything with strong odors (toothpaste, bug repellent, soap, etc.) out of the reach of bears, if possible (at least ten feet above the ground and five feet from the tree trunk). If no trees are available, store your food in airtight or specially designed bear-proof containers.
Avoid taking odorous foods (they attract bears) and keep food smells off your clothing.
Burn garbage completely in a hot fire and pack trash out (don’t bury it). Food and garbage are equally attractive to a bear so treat them with equal care.
On the Trail or in the Backcountry:
- Avoid surprising bears at close range. If you are hiking through bear country, make your presence known, particularly where the terrain or vegetation makes it hard to see. Make noise, sing, talk loudly, or wear a bell.
- If possible, travel with a group. Groups are noisier and easier for bears to detect.
- Bears may be active at any time of the day or night, but they tend to be more active at dawn and dusk. Plan your hikes accordingly and stay on established trails.
- There are several indicators that may alert a backcountry traveler that a bear is in the area. Some of the most easily identifiable clues include rub trees, diggings, scat, and tracks. Identifying these clues may help to prevent an encounter.
- One myth is that bears are attracted to the scent of a menstruating woman. Bear experts say that is rumor, not fact.
- Leave your dog at home. Pets and bears don’t mix.
- Learn and obey the rules and regulations of the wilderness and other areas you’re hiking in.
If you Encounter a Bear:
- Remain calm and avoid sudden movements.
- Give the bear plenty of room, allowing it to continue its activities undisturbed. Every bear has a zone of danger or personal space — that is, the distance within which a bear feels threatened. If it changes its natural behav-ior (feeding, foraging or movement) because of your presence, you are too close. If you stray within that comfort zone, a bear may react aggressively in the form of a bluff charge, bodily contact, or even an outright attack.
- If you spot a bear and the bear is unaware of you, detour quickly and quietly away.
- If spotted by a bear, try to get its attention while it is a good distance away. Help the bear to recognize that you are human, by talking to it in a normal voice or waving your arms. If a bear cannot tell what you are, it may come closer or stand on its hind legs to get a better look or smell. A standing bear is usually curious, not threatening.
- Some bears will bluff their way out of a threatening situation by charging, then veering off or stopping abruptly at the last second. Bear experts generally recommend standing still until the bear stops and then slowlybacking away.
- Never run from a bear. Running may elicit a chase from an otherwise non-aggressive bear,and since they can run faster than 30 mph, you have no chance of outrunning them.
- Never feed or toss food to a bear.
- Climbing a tree to avoid bears is popular advice but not very practi-cal in many circumstances. All black bears, all grizzly cubs, and some adult grizzlies can climb trees. Running to a tree may provoke an otherwise uncertain bear to chase you.
- Throw something onto the ground (like a camera) if the bear pursues you, as it may be distracted by this and allow you to escape.
- If you carry pepper spray, be sure that you have trained with it beforetrusting it during an attack.Black bears and grizzly bears are very different animals, with grizzlies being responsible for most bear-attack fatalities. In the extreme case that a grizzly bear makes contact with you, play dead. Lie face down on the ground and place your hands around the back of your neck. Stay silent and don’t move. Try to keep your legs spread apart to prevent the bear from rolling you over. If possible, leave your pack on to protect your back. Typically a grizzly bear will break off its attack once it feels the threat has been eliminated. Remain quiet and motionless for as long as possible. Bears will often watch from a distance and return at the first sign of movement. Black bears attack very rarely, but when they do it is most likely a predatory attack (i.e. looking for a meal). Even though a normal black bear does not view people as food, a starving or injured bear might. Playing dead or climbing a tree will not stop these kind of attacks, so your best recourse is to act aggressively and try to intimidate the bear by yelling and waving your arms and if necessary, fight back using any object available.When the bear no longer feels threatened, it will usually leave the area. Do not move or make noise until you are sure the bear is gone. For further information: International Association for Bear Research and Management (www.bearbiology.com) - a non-profit volunteer organization dedicated to the conservation of all species of bears.
