This past Labor day I was camping with my girl friend and children. We were too late to get into the regular State Forest campground that we like to stay at and were demoted to “dispersed” camping. These are unimproved campsites in a general area. The campsite we picked out of the three we found was very steep, but, after 4 tries, we managed to find a spot for the camper. Night one was uneventful. But the second night we had an uninvited visitor … a Black Bear.
Now, Pam, my designated co planner for camping trips, was a little worried when she heard it and woke me (it generally takes a small to medium-sized explosion to wake me, my snores tend to drown other noises out!). After I quit rubbing my ribs and could breathe, I listened and said yes it could be a bear. When ask what I was going to do, I realized this was a man thing (you know killing spiders, taking out the garbage and chasing off bears). So, I walked over to the door and turned the outside light on and saw… A Bear! To be honest, I thought I would see a raccoon or deer or something smaller. I don’t know who was more surprised, the bear or myself. In the End, the bear was easy to chase off; he turned and ran, and I stuck my head out the door and yelled at him just to make it look good, and he never came back.
Then three days later, I was driving a back road going to look at a house that was for sale and had a mother bear with two cubs on the road in front of me. Mother and one cub went to the right and one cub went to the left. So, for the next few minutes, I sat between them in my truck and watched until they figured out I wasn’t going to hurt them. Finally, the lone cub crossed the road and ran to Mom and all three left, not to be seen again.
Now, what do these two events have in common? Obviously the bear contacts. My step-father couldn’t believe I had seen 4 bear in less than a week and proclaimed I was as lucky as a dog with two… well, never mind. But the fact is most people don’t see bears that often and don’t know what to to when they do see them. Many of them have watched too many Disney movies and think bears are some sort of cuddly animal or have watched too many horror movies and think they are about to die. The truth lies somewhere in the middle of course.
So let me give you some Bare facts about Bears:
- If you are going to be attacked, it most likely will be a black bear. Why, you ask? Well, they are in almost every state, grizzly bears have a very limited range.
- Most people that are attacked have done something, shall we say less than intelligent, like tried to have their child feed the nice bear some marshmallows or gotten between a mother and her cubs.
- Bears like food and if you feed them they will come; however, if you quit feeding them, they will still come and now will be hungry and used to humans. (this is called a campground where everyone leaves their coolers out until the bears are used to eating out of coolers). Leaving food out on the table and going away is just asking for bear problems.
- Only ONE campground in Yellowstone is closed to tents and soft side campers, and that is Fishing Bridge Campground.
- A single hiker moving quietly is more likely to have problems with bears.
- Bears do have comfort zones. So, if you get too close to them and invade that space, they will try to leave. If you have left them no easy exit, they will leave over you.
- Bear spray will work to keep them away but even better than that is to be smart.
So, what can you do to protect yourself and your loved ones from bears? Mostly, it is very easy.
- Stay in your vehicle if you see a bear. Stop and take that picture, but, unless the bear is over a hundred yards away, you are safer in the vehicle. The same for a camper… don’t go out and try to scare them off, stay inside.
- Lights and loud noises will work to scare all but the most persistent of bears off. Loud whistles, banging on pots, yelling, honking your horn.
- Don’t feed the bears. Keep all food and containers in your camper (or vehicle) or in the bear boxes. If you are backpacking, suspend the packs on a rope between two trees well out of reach from the trees or ground.
- When hiking, go as a group and don’t be afraid to make noise in bear country — sing, talk, wear bells. Stay close together and, if you see a bear, bunch up. Three or four people all together look bigger and tougher than one alone.
- Don’t try to get too close to a bear … they are wild animals, and, if you try to feed them, whatever happens to you, you deserve.
- Whatever you do, DON”T get between a mother bear and its cub or cubs. If you find yourself between a mother bear and her cubs, leave as quickly and quietly as you can.
- If you are attacked, try to cover your head with your arms and do the proverbial play dead act.
- They say black bear can climb trees and grizzly bears can’t. Mostly true, grizzlies just push them over; so, don’t rely on trees to save you. Plan ahead and be smart.
Bears are an exciting part of the outdoors. Treat them with respect and intelligence. Binoculars and spotting scopes are the best things for bear watching. Seeing a bear in the wild can make a memory you will treasure forever, like when we saw a Grizzly with three cubs in Yellowstone.
And I’m just going to leave you with one thought: Good bears poop has nuts and berries in it. Bad bears poop has bells and whistles in it and smells like pepper. (Smile)
Your Obedient Servant,
Gary Smith, Jr.