RE: [Paddlewise] Paddlewise: Grizzlies in Desolation Sound?

> Evan Dallas wrote:
> 
> > Also, many people say that black bears won't bother you as 
> long as: (a) you
> > don't corner them in any way; (b) you don't get between 
> them and a cub or
> > their food; (c) you don't have food near you or your camp 
> (other than your
> > own body, I suppose...); and (d) there aren't any 
> menstruating paddlers
> > with you.  Any informed opinions on how reliable this 
> advice is?  I assume
> > this is NOT true for grizzlies.  If true for black bears, 
> would it be ok to
> > cook food in such a camp, or is it better to eat cold stuff?
>
Dave Kruger responded:
 
> a, b, c, and d are all good things to follow to MINIMIZE the 
> chances a black
> bear will hassle you.  After 35 years backpacking and yakking 
> in black bear
> country in WA, OR, WY (some griz territory), ID, NV, and BC, 
> summing up 30-40
> nights/year, I calculate about 1100 nights out.  I have had **three**
> encounters with black bears over that time, and in each case, 
> the bear either
> ignored me (and walked around my camp -- food was out, 
> sausage one time!) or
> took off like a scalded cat!
> 
> Mind you, all of these interactions were with bears which were **not**
> habituated to associate humans with food they like to eat.  
> Bears which are
> habituated to seek out human encampments as a food source are 
> very different
> in their behavior.
> 
> The places I have visited are almost entirely free of bears 
> which might
> associate humans with food.  Even so, by religiously 
> stringing my food up at
> night and keeping **all** food items out of the tent, I have 
> felt "safe."  I
> also cook in a site maybe 50 - 100 feet away from my tent.  
> Others avoid
> sleeping in the clothes they were wearing while cooking. I 
> have never taken
> that precaution.
> 
> None of this guarantees me freedom from black bear hassles.  
> I'm just playing
> the odds.  So far, I'm winning!

  The thing that I always try to keep in mind when camping or hiking in
brown bear (ie. grizzly) territory is that I am in _their_ territory and
that _they_ are at the top of the food chain.  Behave like a creature that
doesn't want to be eaten.  
  Dave Kruger's comment about not cooking in camp applies to eating as well
- no food in camp!  That being said, the bear maulings that we've had in SE
Alaska this year have almost all occurred because the individual
accidentally disturbed a sow with cubs.  
  Brown bear can be unpredictable - avoidance is the best policy.  When
hiking or in camp make noise - let them know where you are.  There aren't
many things worse than a surprised brown bear!
  Pick your campsite wisely - don't bed down along the tumbling bank of the
local salmon stream or right next to that patch of nice tender grass or next
to that old dead log full of tasty grubs.
  My favorite spot to view brown bear is from about 200 yds with my
binoculars while safely seated in my kayak! 
  
Dave Seng
Juneau, Alaska 
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