{"id":661,"date":"2006-12-08T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2006-12-08T00:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/setsail.com\/?p=661"},"modified":"2009-04-15T08:57:09","modified_gmt":"2009-04-15T13:57:09","slug":"s_logs-dashew-dashew317","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/setsail.com\/s_logs-dashew-dashew317\/","title":{"rendered":"Preparing for Bear Encounters"},"content":{"rendered":"
Bearing on Bears: After an unforgettable summer in BC and Alaska, Linda and Steve feel magnetically drawn to return next year. They’ve done some research so they’ll be prepared for more bear encounters.<\/div>\n

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If you cruise in British Columbia or Alaska you need to know something about bears. We are not experts on this subject. But we have talked to various rangers and wildlife guides, and read a number of books to try to give ourselves a heads up on the topic. Here are a few things we’ve learned, based primarily on our research in Southeast Alaska. <\/p>\n

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To begin with one has to acknowledge that bears are at the top of the food chain. While problems between humans and bears are rare in BC and Alaska, they do occur, and the bear almost always has his way. The bear in the photo above is an Alaskan brown bear or grizzly.<\/p>\n

Bears are smart, have different personalities, and do not always react in the same fashion to similar situations. There are also regional differences. Grizzly bears in the lower 48 States, for example, are more aggressive and territorial than is usually the case in Alaska, where it is thought that group salmon fishing may condition bears to tolerate others in their personal space.<\/p>\n

All of the literature we’ve perused has stressed the rare nature of bear vs. human physical conflict. The bears are around, of course, but they tend to avoid humans in most situations. The probability of being physically harmed or killed by a bear from the literature seems to be remote in the absence of statistics. But one of the pamphlets we picked up indicates that between 1980 and 1999 brown bears killed 13 people in Alaska and injured 75 others. In the same period black bears killed two and injured three. And, we were very surprised by the number of first- and second-hand bear encounter stories we heard from local cruisers, professional watermen, and guides – enough to give us a healthy dose of respect for the risks, if we didn’t have this before.<\/p>\n

Here are a few of the rules we’ve picked up about bear safety. Number one, do not carry food with you, not even a piece of a candy bar or package of chewing gum. The scent attracts bears (they have an amazingly keen sense of smell). <\/p>\n

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Take precaution to avoid surprising bears. Talk loudly, wear "bear bells" like those shown in the photo above, and generally make lots of noise so the bears know you are around. Walking with the wind at your back will warn bears via your scent. Never walk alone where you might encounter a bear. The statistics indicate that the more people in a tight group, the lower the risk factor. A group of four or more is significantly less liable to a problem than going on your own or as a couple. If you do need to make a bear back off, one of the suggestions we’ve heard is to unzip your jacket and flare it outward, so that your body looks larger.<\/p>\n

Stay away from mother bears and their cubs, and never<\/em> come between a mom and her cubs. <\/p>\n

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Bears often use the same trails as humans, so keep a careful look out. If you are walking along a beach, stay close to the water’s edge and away from the forest or grasses that are above the tide line.<\/p>\n

The experienced guides and rangers tell us you can often tell a bear’s intentions from his posture. <\/p>\n

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Standing erect, on hind legs, is usually not an aggressive posture. When the bear’s head and nose are raised, with ears forward, it may only be trying to identify smells and noises. <\/p>\n

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Standing in profile, head lowered and "passively" looking into the distance may be a bear’s way of showing his size, and telling you to back off. We’re not sure if the photo above illustrates this posture, but the bear was definitely giving our group a good looking over. According to what we’ve read, bears will often "mock charge", stopping sometimes 10 feet away or less.<\/p>\n

"A high bouncing charge is a threat" according to Nick Jans. He says that "the most serious charges are generally straight in, elbows out, low and hard, and often eerily silent."<\/p>\n

Aggression is signaled by salivation, chattering of teeth, hair raised on the hump back and ears laid back along the sides of the head (sorry, but we didn’t have occasion to photograph this behavior!). <\/p>\n

A lot of folks carry cans of bear spray. <\/p>\n

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This is an oversized version of Mace or pepper spray, and is said to be very effective. However, we could find nobody who had actually used bear spray. We were also warned not to use it to try to protect an area by spraying it on the ground or brush, as this can actually attract bears. <\/p>\n

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We picked up two canisters of bear spray, each with its own holster. These are shipped with a nylon wire tie sealing the trigger, to prevent accidental discharge. Obviously this seal must be removed before you find yourself in a situation where the spray may be needed. It makes sense to test bear spray and get used to how it sprays.<\/p>\n

The bears need to be very close for this to work, and it helps if you are spraying downwind. A United States EPA pamphlet on bear spray says it "should only be used to deter charging or attacking bears."<\/p>\n

Under "How to Use" the pamphlet states "point container nozzle at bear, aiming slightly downward. If possible, give a short warning blast of the spray when the bear is 40 feet (12m) away (so the bear must pass through the spray cloud before it gets to you). If the bear continues to charge, keep spraying until the bear changes direction. Leave the area promptly, but do not run."<\/p>\n

We’ve seen rangers and professional guides who carry some form of long-barreled weapon with them. Typically this is either a very large bore rifle (.300 bore ore more) or a 12-gauge shotgun with rifled slugs (Magnum load).<\/p>\n

The problem with both bear spray and guns is knowing when (and how) to use them. If a bear is merely curious or eating his way through some sedge grass towards your position, how do you know when to react? These can be incredibly fast animals, when they want to get somewhere in a hurry. If the bear is 50 feet (15m) away, and suddenly decides he is going to attack, there are maybe a couple of seconds to react.<\/p>\n

When we were at the Pack Creek bear viewing station on Admiralty Island a large bear came within 20 feet (6 meters) of us. The ranger did not bother to chamber a round into his rifle. Later, he told us that "the bear showed no signs of aggression".<\/p>\n

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This guy was so close to us we could not get our 70mm zoom to focus!<\/p>\n

If we were in the same situation on our own, we are not sure we’d have shown the same restraint. Bears in the viewing areas like Pack Creek or Anan are habituated to humans, and so may approach closely, as in this instance.<\/p>\n

There are other tools. One is an air horn, to frighten the bears away, or just let them know you are in the area. Another interesting approach, told to us by author Nick Jans, who was a big game hunter in Alaska before turning to full-time writing, is to use a flare pistol. Nick says that if he is nervous about a bear, and wants it to keep a distance, he will shoot a flare between himself and the bear. This takes some practice, of course, and you have to be cognizant of the terrain, so as not to start a forest fire. Nick points out that this diffuses the situation at a distance. Once the bear is closer to you, the time you and the bear have to react is significantly less.<\/p>\n

A state of Alaska pamphlet on bear safety has the following admonitions: <\/p>\n

Identify yourself. Let the bear know you are human. Talk to the bear in a normal voice. Wave your arms. Help the bear recognize you…You may try to back away slowly and diagonally, but if the bear follows, stop and hold your ground.<\/p>\n

Don’t run. You can’t outrun bears. They are faster than a sprinter and like dogs, will chase fleeing animals. A bear might charge to within a few feet of you before stopping. Continue waving your arms and talking to the bear. If it does not leave, or continues approaching, become more defensive – raise your voice, beat on pans, use noisemakers, throw rocks or sticks. Drive a bear off rather than let it follow you. If with a group, stand shoulder-to shoulder to present a larger outline.<\/p>\n

If a bear actually makes contact you have two choices; play dead or fight back. The best choice depends on whether the bear is reacting defensively or is seeking food. Play dead if you are attacked by a grizzly\/brown bear you have surprised, encountered a carcass, or any female bear that seems to be protecting her cubs. Lie flat on your stomach, or curl up into a ball with your hands behind your neck. Typically the bear will break off its attack once it feels the threat has been eliminated. Remain motionless for as long as possible. If you move, and the bear sees or hears you, it may renew its attack. Rarely, lone black bears or grizzlies may perceive a person as potential food. Fight any bear that follows you or breaks into a tent or building. Fight any black bear regardless of the circumstances.<\/p>\n

From a Bear Safety data sheet published by the National Park Service, a few additional comments: "Defensive behavior may include snorting, huffing, jaw popping, and charging. If you note any of these behaviors STOP AND STAND YOUR GROUND. Your safety lies in calming the bear…If the bear charges, remain non-threatening and stand your ground. Most charges do not end in contact. Now is the time to use pepper spray if you have it."<\/p>\n

Nick Jans’s book The Grizzly Maze<\/em> is the best we’ve seen on the subject. While predominantly about Timothy Treadwell, Nick has a chapter at the end filled with interesting statistics, ways of reducing risk factors, and defensive tactics. If you are interested in the subject we recommend reading this book carefully. (Penguin Group is the publisher.)<\/p>\n

There are a couple of interesting details Nick points out about black bear predation. If you are followed by or stalked by a black bear, "immediately and aggressively drive away any black bear that seems to be exhibiting lurking, predatory behavior." This gives you a chance of stopping the problem before it starts. He goes on, "There are a number of cases of people, even children, driving off or killing predatory black bears with tree limbs, fists, hatchets, rocks, pistols…"<\/p>\n

There are also some seasonal factors to keep in mind. Risk factors apparently go up when bears are hungry. If the salmon are running and the berry crops are good, the bears are mainly concerned with imbibing as much of these nutrients as possible prior to winter hibernation. On the other hand, if the berry crop is poor, or the salmon run is delayed or small, bears are going to be hungrier.<\/p>\n

Which brings us back to the question of bear spray and guns. We’ve heard several stories of couples, one of whom was attacked, while the other was left alone. If that is the scenario, then the second person can use the gun or bear spray to help the person being attacked. There have also been cases where first one and then a second person was attacked. Again, having a means of defense on both individuals means you can fight back.<\/p>\n

Being attacked by a bear is not high on our list of things we want to experience. Yet watching these animals in the wild is a tremendous thrill, perhaps heightened just a bit by the risks involved. We’ve come to the conclusion that bear viewing in groups, preferably accompanied by an experienced and armed guide is the way to do things on land. Bear viewing on our own is done from the dinghy, at a safe distance from shore. Using powerful binoculars – and a long lens on the camera – gets us plenty close.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Bearing on Bears: After an unforgettable summer in BC and Alaska, Linda and Steve feel magnetically drawn to return next …Read More<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-661","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-dashew-blog"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/setsail.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/661"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/setsail.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/setsail.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/setsail.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/setsail.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=661"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/setsail.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/661\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/setsail.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=661"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/setsail.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=661"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/setsail.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=661"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}