RE: [Paddlewise] Subject: Quatsino Sound

On 23 Jun 2003 at 12:59, Steve Brown wrote:

> I didn't mean to infer that being eaten by a black bear is a frequent
> occurrence. What I said was that what I have read is that Black Bear
> attacks, when they occur, are usually to eat you. I think this is a
> generally accepted fact about black bears because the web site quoted
> on a later post says this: "In the unlikely event a black bear attacks
> you (meaning he thinks you are prey)" 

That's not the way your post comes across.  Furthermore, the use of 
the term "attacks" can be misleading.  Taking that quote out of 
context implies that if they come after you, the intent is to eat you 
(prey).  

> That web site
> (http://www.wa.gov/wdfw/wlm/game/blkbear/blkbear4.htm)also has a
> hodge-podge of solutions to avoiding attack and surviving attack which
> seem to contradict one-another. They say avoid eye contact to avoid a
> charge, presumably so you won't look threatening (I think that's good
> advice for a Griz), 

Never stare at any animal unless you want it to think you are a 
threat.  Bert, the dog I mentioned in my previous response, was one 
who was friendly as heck once introduced, but at one point while 
playing with him, I stared him down and the Doberman in him started 
to show.  I quickly switched to a different form of interaction.

(http://members.rogers.com/michaeldaly/images/bertAndElke.jpg  Elke 
in the green tee and Bert (7 mo. old) on one end of the leash.  Don't 
know the guy on the other end)

> but then wave your arms, look big and tall like a
> human so you will look threatening. 

They are afraid of humans, but it's looking big that really does the 
trick.  They size up the competition before acting.

> Also on surviving an attack, they
> start with fighting back aggressively, but then say if the attack
> continues to play dead. Playing dead sounds like an invitation to be
> eaten immediately to me. 

This is muddled advice on that web site.  If the bear is threatened 
enough to attack, playing dead will usually make it stop (e.g. see 
the online story about the woman who lost both arms to a bear while 
conducting wildlife research in Alaska - every time she moved, the 
attack continued, when she stopped, the bear stopped.)

If the bear is exhibiting predatory behavior that means it considers 
you lunch and you should fight back and not stop.  

The order is - assume it's merely threatened and play dead.  If the 
attack doesn't stop relatively soon, fight like hell.  If you're 
injured, doing this (either playing dead or fighting) is extremely 
difficult.

> Here is another web site by the Government of
> the Northwest Territories which is surprisingly firearm centric in its
> approach to dealing with attack. There seems to be other links on the
> page with information about avoiding trouble.
> www.nwtwildlife.rwed.gov.nt.ca/Publications/safetyinbearcountry/attack
> s. htm Anyway, I include the link because it makes a very clear
> distinction between black and grizzly intentions when they attack.

Those who live in the wilderness in NWT, Yukon and Nunavut are likely 
to carry a gun much of the time (rifle or shotgun - comment
on pistols removed by moderator).  They have 
a different frame of mind in the north (drinking and driving - that 
is: bottle in hand - was legal up there when I was younger).

This site also doesn't distinguish well between aggressive charges 
and predatory behavior on the part of a black bear.  An aggressive 
charge can include a head butt (which can break bones and knock you 
down) or a swipe with a paw (ditto with claw cuts added).  That 
doesn't make it predatory.  An old, male fighter will be more 
aggressive than a younger bear with less of an attitude.  This adds a 
margin of unpredictability to the situation.

Lots of paddlers travel through the north and rarely carry guns.  
When I did the Nahanni, we saw several bears and a few in the group 
had bear spray.  Friends of mine have done lots of other rivers in 
the north (Mountain, Coppermine, Yukon etc) and the rules of the 
south apply.  One advantage in the north is that the bears are much 
less likely to be habituated to humans so are easier to deal with.

Mike

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