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). *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
On 23 Jun 2003 at 19:49, Michael Orchard wrote: >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...) There are restrictions on real bear spray so obtaining it is difficult. I haven't seen it in a retail outlet in a long time. It seems, according to one retailer I spoke to, that real bear spray in Canada is classified as a weapon (like various martial arts devices) and so you have to work a little harder to find and acquire it (red tape more than anything). I never looked into it further, since I don't use the stuff. If you go into any local outdoor gear store, you'll find "bear spray" in stock, however, this stuff is barely "tabasco in a spray can" and is not real bear spray. The quantity of capsicum isn't sufficient to qualify as a real bear deterent according to Herrero. It will work on a dog or person, bears are iffy. Mike *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
I love to backpack and kayak in Alaska and have read about everything I can find on bear behavior, bear attacks, and bear etiquette. I have also had a few bear encounters, both black and brown. Here are several observations for what it is worth: 1) Bears are hunted in Alaska and I have seen no indication that this increases either their fear or the hunter's safety. In fact, far more bear hunters are attacked by grizzly bears than all other outdoor enthusiasts combined (fishermen, hikers, backpackers, berry pickers, kayakers, you name it). I know of one man that shot a brown bear twice with a 30.06 rifle and 5 times with a 357 magnum at very close range. He got mangled (actually his head was crushed in the bear's jaws) and the bear walked away (belief is that it survived, as weeks of searching failed to turn up a dead bear). 2) Brown bear charges are most likely a bluff. The primary exception being a female with cubs. 3) Bears are far more predictable than people. They act on a few basic instincts, while the motivations of people are far more complex and irrational. I once responded to an editorial against reintroducing grizzly bears in Idaho by challenging the author to a bet. I would camp out for a month among one of the most dense brown bear populations on earth (Admiralty Island, Alaska) and he would camp out in urban D.C.'s Rock Creek Park for a month, and we would see who has the safest experience. He declined. 4) A little knowledge about bear behavior will offer far more protection from mishaps than a gun (I have guns, but never take them into the backcountry). 5) Anyone who loves truly wild places will also love the presence of natural predators such as bears. Dave David E. Jenkins Director of Conservation and Public Policy American Canoe Association (703) 451-0141 ext.20 *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
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