Re: [Paddlewise] Grizzlies in Desolation Sound?

.....and of course, there is the pamphlet available from the National Park Service which details
some basic common sense things that you can do to prevent any unpleasantness in a  bear
encounter....   you know, simple things to 'bear proof' yourself.   And how to identify
different species in you might encounter in the great outdoors.
    1.  Wear little metal bells on the frame of your backpack.  This will cause you to make
quite a racket while walking on the trail, and presumably you will not surprise a bear who is up
to his neck in blueberries and munching.
    2.  Always carry pepper spray accessible on the outside of your pack.  Remember, within
reach!
    The bears will pretty much avoid you, so one excellent way to find out who lives in the
woods you're hiking through, is to carefully observe their scat. (poo poo.)
        1.  Black bear scat has the fir and crushed bones from small mammals like ground
squirrels......and a lot of undigested berries in it.
        2.  Grizzly bear scat has a lot of little bells in the scat and smells like cayenne
pepper.

Ed Bean wrote:

> Reminds me of an old joke...
>
> Q - Do you know the difference between a black bear and a grizzly?
>
> A - A black bear will chase you up a tree to get you-- a grizzly will just knock it down! :)
>
> Ed Bean
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From:   Evan Dallas [SMTP:Evan_Dallas_at_notes.ntrs.com]
> Sent:   Monday, August 16, 1999 2:47 PM
> To:     PaddleWise
> Subject:        [Paddlewise] Paddlewise: Grizzlies in Desolation Sound?
>
> The "Kayaking Routes of the Pacific Northwest" guidebook describes a few
> areas east of Desolation sound (on the way towards Toba inlet) as bear
> areas -- two on the mainland as "grizzley bear habitat", and one on the
> north east corner of West Redonda island as having a "healthy black bear
> population".  Anyone know how frequent bear encounters are in this area?
> Being fairly cowardly kayakers, we're inclined to skip the grizzley areas
> altogether, even though the book describes them as having great camps (one
> wonders how great a camp is if you may have to share it with grizzlies).
>
> 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?
>
> Evan
>
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