[Paddlewise] Bluffing Bears....

I believe from my readings and contact with some who have worked with bears:

Polar Bears, as stated below are not going to be bluffed,   and a charge
from them will not usually be a bluff.  Polar bears are extreme predators...

Black bears are far more likely to "bluff charge" than brown bears....ie if
a black bear charges, and it is not in response to a perceived threat to
cubs, it may well be a bluff...but who except a so called expert, or someone
who knows that bear in particular, is going to stand their ground to a bear
charge.   Most people will not even stand their ground to a charging
dog...even a little one.

When a brown bear charges it is far less likely to be a bluff...and
resistance, or standing your ground,  is far less likely to result in non
injury than in the case of a black bear.

The "experts" tend to agree on one thing...whether or not an individual bear
is a serious threat is hard to predict.  Bears are for the most part not all
that predictable and their threshold for molesting people is dependent on
many variables, including the presence of cubs, the relative amount of
natural foodstuffs at the time of year you encounter one, the experience of
the bear with people, the experience of the bear with human food stuffs...

There are several good books on human bear interactions, and studies of bear
behavior in the wild...and they are entertaining reading.  I would encourage
anyone who expects to be in real bear country, especially in isolated areas,
to spend the time to read these things.

Avoidance and giving safe food handling procedures are far more likely to
result in safety than guns, bear spray, etc...

Bear spray works sometimes, but not always...and should be a last resort
only.  I think pepper sprays of any sort are illegal in Canada, at least
illegal to bring into the country while on vacation from the usa...(comments
from Canadians are welcome here...)

Guns...not to raise an unwelcome topic, but the last time I took care of a
bear injured person  his worse injury was from his own gun, not from the
bear.  (He was a poacher.)

Cougars...it seems that cougars are far more likely to view a person as
prey, but can be fought off.  An  man on Vancouver Island last summer killed
a cougar who had attacked him...the man was alone and hiked out after his
encounter.  I think the man was in his sixties.  Standing your ground to a
cougar is thought to be the right thing to do ... and to make yourself look
as big as possible is part of that.  Using any sticks, rocks, etc to fight
or scare it off is thought to be the right thing to do...as opposed to
turning your back to it and running.

As for bears...throwing rocks, using sticks to threaten it is usually not
good, but leaving carefully and discreetly is wise if it shows any interest
in you, or if it appears to be getting agitated.

Michael Orchard, DVM


> Predatory bear behavior is rare and most bear attacks have nothing to
> do with them wanting to eat anyone.  In fact most "attacks" are bluff
> charges - a bear's way of saying "go away this is my territory".
> (Polar bears are the exception - but few of us are lucky enough to
> paddle in polar bear territory).
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