It’s spring again. The birds are singing, leaves are budding on trees, and my sinuses are already cringing in apprehension of the incoming histamine bombardment that makes my life a living hell for six weeks every year. But, enough about my nasal passages. The big news in the hiking community right now is that there was a Grizzly Bear sighting in Kananaskis Country the other day. While this by itself isn’t particularly meaningful, there are still many areas of the Alberta Rockies where it is still very much Winter, it means that good old Yogi is starting to stir from his winter slumber. So, since many of the guests here at Centro Motel are looking forward to venturing into the mountains for some hiking, I thought it would be prudent to give a refresher on Bear Safety. There are really only a few things to do to make sure you and your fellow hikers and campers stay safe out there, and the first thing to do is…
#1 Make Noise
Easily the most important step in Bear safety is to make sure the bears know you’re coming. Bears, as well as most wild animals, are fearful of humans and will not willingly allow themselves to be approached. In fact, many bear attacks occur because the animals are startled. Simply whistling a tune, giving the odd shout, employing a Bear Bell, or chatting with your fellow outdoor enthusiasts is all it takes to keep your outing free of encounters of the furry kind.
#2 Don’t Sleep With Your Food
Bears are natural foodies. They love to eat tasty treats, and they can smell those treats from a long ways off. Keep the bears slim and peaceful by safely storing all of your food and strong-smelling items (deodorant, perfume, shampoo, etc) away from your campsite in a Bear-Hang or a bear-safe storage bin. Also, make sure your camp site is about 100 yards away from these facilities.
#3 Know How to Behave
You can never underestimate the unpredictable nature of Bears. However, there are some guidelines that should be followed during any ear encounter that will help you make it out of there with plus great memories, and minus any fracas.
Firstly, if you see a bear from a distance, do not approach it. Content yourself by admiring it from afar, but don’t try to get close. If a Bear approaches you, make yourself appear to be bigger and meaner than you really are by waving your arms above your head and shouting. While this might seem silly, it actually works. Bears, especially Grizzly Bears and excluding Polar Bears, are exceptionally near-sighted. At a certain distance you’re just a blur to them. Making a lot of noise and looking taller than the Bear is a good way of convincing the animal that you’re not to be messed with.
Secondly, back away slowly. Don’t leave the leaving all up to the bear, but don’t run away either. Just slowly back away, waving your arms and making as much noise as humanly possible. If the worst case scenario happens and the Bear Charges you, your options are to either climb a tree if it’s a Grizzly Bear, and play dead if it’s a Black Bear. However, before you resort to those drastic options you should…
#4 Have Bear Spray and Bear Bangers, and Be Prepared to Use Them
There are two main anti-bear mechanisms out there. In both cases make sure that you carry the items in ways that you can quickly reach them if you need to. You don’t have to become Quickdraw McGraw (and frankly you shouldn’t, people who do look ridiculous) but you should be able to get a hold of these items within a few seconds of needing them. First up is the Bear Banger.
A Bear Banger is basically a spring launched bottle rocket that travels about 40 feet, and then explodes with a bang three times louder than a shotgun blast. You use it by firing it straight up into the air (you REALLY don’t want it going off behind the Bear), and the noise should scare the picnic basket loving heck out of the beastie. If the Banger doesn’t work, and the Bear is still approaching, go for you Bear Spray.
Bear Spray is a defensive weapon of last resort, and is rarely used. It’s basically a heavy duty pepper spray, about three times stronger than mace, and has an effective range of about 20 feet. Your average canister has enough spray in it to last for about 8 seconds, so you have to be somewhat judicious in your use and aim. Note* If you have to use Bear Spray in or near your campsite, move your camp as the lasting peppery-ness can actually attract Bears.
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The best source of info on bear attacks is the book by Stephen Herrero. It’s based on analysis of confimed attacks, unlike other sources that are based on folk wisdom and assumptions.
From Herrero’s information, a couple of caveats:
1) If you play dead for an aggressive black bear, you’ll be eaten. Blacks eat their kills immediatly. Grizzlies attack out of fury more often than hunger, and usually leave once they think they’ve neutralized the threat.
2) Climbing a tree to escape a grizzly is suicidal unless you do it when the animal is still a long way off. Grizzlies can run as fast as racehorses over a short distance, they can climb 20 ft or so up a tree, fast, and they get so angry at your attempt to escape that they will tear to you ribbons.
3) If a grizzly charges you, the correct procedure is to soil your pants while you pretend to ignore him. The animal may merely bluff-charge. Or it may knock you down and sniff at you, or it might paw you and chew you up a bit to see if you’re alive. But it will not likely kill you, as long as you make no attempt to fight or flee, but just let the animal think you’re dead. This is absolutely the wrong strategy though, for a black bear.
4) If a grizzly is deliberately stalking you, as a predator, and you have no bear spray or other deterrent, you will die. A black bear, you fight for your life, against long odds. The only reason for fighting a grizzly is the hope that the adrenaline will make your death less miserable.
I bought Herrero’s book before doing forestry work in grizzly country, and the information above is almost entirely his.
That’s some excellent additional information there, Bill. I would add that the first step for any of these species-specific strategies is to positively identify the species of Bear you’re dealing with. Sometimes, that can be more difficult than you might think. Fur colour can vary wildly within bear species, and the traits that define the Grizzly (shape of the ears, hump between the shoulders) can be hard to get a good look at in some circumstances.
I’ll add also, I completely agree with your comments about food. In grizzly country, you should recognize that all food belongs to the bear. Bears have noses like drug-sniffing dogs, and any food in your possession is contraband. I know that’s a bit extreme, but it’s a good way to think.
Certainly don’t take strong smelling foods like bacon or canned fish!
Set up your cooking area a good distance from the tent. Have no food smells inside the tent, in the tent material itself, or on the clothes you take into the tent. A tent isn’t of any special interest to a bear, as long as it doesn’t smell interesting.
Thanks for seconding the food advice. I totally agree about taking in strong foods with you, canned fish is like crack to Yogi. It sounds like you’ve spent a lot of time out in Bear Country, got any good stories?