Comments on: What to Do if You Encounter a Bear http://www.pbs.org/wnet/nature/episodes/the-good-the-bad-and-the-grizzly/what-to-do-if-you-encounter-a-bear/117/ The premier natural history series Tue, 24 Nov 2009 22:29:06 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Steve Hall http://www.pbs.org/wnet/nature/episodes/the-good-the-bad-and-the-grizzly/what-to-do-if-you-encounter-a-bear/117/comment-page-2/#comment-13869 Steve Hall Sun, 04 Oct 2009 17:02:29 +0000 http://www.pbs.org/wnet/nature/2008/06/03/grizzly-encounters/#comment-13869 Bear attacks in the US and Canada are extremely infrequent, averaging about 4 per year. Last year 400,000 people visited Denali National Park, and probably half of these at some point saw a Grizzly. Number of attacks? None. It's the old story: the only time you read about a bear is when he attacks someone. I've seen 40 grizzlies in the wild. Half ran away, the other half ignored me. While an attack by a black bear is an improbable event, If one does attack you, stand your ground and defend yourself, as you may be able to discourage a black bear. On the other hand, never fight back if a grizzly attacks, as you'll have no chance, and may enrage it through resistance. Go into the fetal position, grit your teeth and hope for the best. Most people attacked by Grizzlies survive, as killing you is not necessarily the bear's intent. Attacks are generally caused when a sow thinks you're a danger to her cubs, or when you unwittingly pass near a grizzly who is guarding a food cache. Bear attacks in the US and Canada are extremely infrequent, averaging about 4 per year. Last year 400,000 people visited Denali National Park, and probably half of these at some point saw a Grizzly. Number of attacks? None. It’s the old story: the only time you read about a bear is when he attacks someone. I’ve seen 40 grizzlies in the wild. Half ran away, the other half ignored me. While an attack by a black bear is an improbable event, If one does attack you, stand your ground and defend yourself, as you may be able to discourage a black bear. On the other hand, never fight back if a grizzly attacks, as you’ll have no chance, and may enrage it through resistance. Go into the fetal position, grit your teeth and hope for the best. Most people attacked by Grizzlies survive, as killing you is not necessarily the bear’s intent. Attacks are generally caused when a sow thinks you’re a danger to her cubs, or when you unwittingly pass near a grizzly who is guarding a food cache.

]]> By: corneilius http://www.pbs.org/wnet/nature/episodes/the-good-the-bad-and-the-grizzly/what-to-do-if-you-encounter-a-bear/117/comment-page-2/#comment-13427 corneilius Sun, 20 Sep 2009 01:12:55 +0000 http://www.pbs.org/wnet/nature/2008/06/03/grizzly-encounters/#comment-13427 ALWAYS stay BEHIND the bear..... that ways they's confused, they can smell yer, but can't see yer. SO run towards the crittter, real fast, and then veer t one side and rush past (keeping outta range of dem big clawrs) and then stay behind until bear falls over from dizzyness or wanders off in frustration. Only do this if yer fit and agile...... or suicidal! lol! ALWAYS stay BEHIND the bear….. that ways they’s confused, they can smell yer, but can’t see yer. SO run towards the crittter, real fast, and then veer t one side and rush past (keeping outta range of dem big clawrs) and then stay behind until bear falls over from dizzyness or wanders off in frustration. Only do this if yer fit and agile…… or suicidal! lol!

]]> By: drizzy http://www.pbs.org/wnet/nature/episodes/the-good-the-bad-and-the-grizzly/what-to-do-if-you-encounter-a-bear/117/comment-page-2/#comment-13186 drizzy Thu, 10 Sep 2009 13:56:29 +0000 http://www.pbs.org/wnet/nature/2008/06/03/grizzly-encounters/#comment-13186 Dont ruin away because THE BEAR might eat your LUNCH. Dont ruin away because THE BEAR might eat your LUNCH.

]]> By: Papadi http://www.pbs.org/wnet/nature/episodes/the-good-the-bad-and-the-grizzly/what-to-do-if-you-encounter-a-bear/117/comment-page-2/#comment-13156 Papadi Wed, 09 Sep 2009 05:58:45 +0000 http://www.pbs.org/wnet/nature/2008/06/03/grizzly-encounters/#comment-13156 I spent the summer of 1973 backpacking w/inflatable kayak through Glacier Nat Park, Yellowstone, and the Bob Marshall Wilderness. The hot, dry conditions forced many grizzlies down to lower altitudes where they treed back packers in numerous campgrounds in Glacier that summer. That made for some very tense fishing conditions. Caught many cutthroat trout in cirque lakes and surrounding streams. Those destined for dinner had to be eaten immediately so as not to attract bears and the skillet had to be charred to destroy odors. Tent was pitched with the entrance against a tree for quick retreat. Kayaked the Gallatin River canyon north of West Yellowstone. A bear forced a backpacker to make hasty escape from his secluded campsite, cross river and sleep in my campground. By far, the densest pop of grizzlies in lower 48 states is in the Bob Marshall Wilderness. Actually lost the trail crossing Spotted Bear creek and was later told by elk & bear hunting lodge that agitated grizzlies were knocking down trail markers. I saw bears several times but had no encounters. Word to the wise...dangle a small noisy cowbell on your belt and backpack at all times so as not to startle bears, leave no food odors anywhere, & never try to run away!! I spent the summer of 1973 backpacking w/inflatable kayak through Glacier Nat Park, Yellowstone, and the Bob Marshall Wilderness. The hot, dry conditions forced many grizzlies down to lower altitudes where they treed back packers in numerous campgrounds in Glacier that summer. That made for some very tense fishing conditions. Caught many cutthroat trout in cirque lakes and surrounding streams. Those destined for dinner had to be eaten immediately so as not to attract bears and the skillet had to be charred to destroy odors. Tent was pitched with the entrance against a tree for quick retreat. Kayaked the Gallatin River canyon north of West Yellowstone. A bear forced a backpacker to make hasty escape from his secluded campsite, cross river and sleep in my campground. By far, the densest pop of grizzlies in lower 48 states is in the Bob Marshall Wilderness. Actually lost the trail crossing Spotted Bear creek and was later told by elk & bear hunting lodge that agitated grizzlies were knocking down trail markers. I saw bears several times but had no encounters. Word to the wise…dangle a small noisy cowbell on your belt and backpack at all times so as not to startle bears, leave no food odors anywhere, & never try to run away!!

]]> By: Baker http://www.pbs.org/wnet/nature/episodes/the-good-the-bad-and-the-grizzly/what-to-do-if-you-encounter-a-bear/117/comment-page-2/#comment-13153 Baker Tue, 08 Sep 2009 23:28:10 +0000 http://www.pbs.org/wnet/nature/2008/06/03/grizzly-encounters/#comment-13153 As an outdoor educator in Black Bear country, I can tell you that ANY bear encounter is not unprovoked. It might be because of food, territory, young, or any number of reasons. Maybe not reasons that we, as humans, understand, but perfectly good reasons to the bears themselves. Bears have a sense of smell 1000s of times more powerful than us. That alone puts THEM at an advantage. They know we are coming long before we would even think there is a bear in the area. If you just ate, drank, or got out of a car where food was stored - they know it. They will track you for miles because they think they are tracking food - nothing more. As an outdoor educator in Black Bear country, I can tell you that ANY bear encounter is not unprovoked. It might be because of food, territory, young, or any number of reasons. Maybe not reasons that we, as humans, understand, but perfectly good reasons to the bears themselves.
Bears have a sense of smell 1000s of times more powerful than us. That alone puts THEM at an advantage. They know we are coming long before we would even think there is a bear in the area. If you just ate, drank, or got out of a car where food was stored – they know it. They will track you for miles because they think they are tracking food – nothing more.

]]> By: NotaFool http://www.pbs.org/wnet/nature/episodes/the-good-the-bad-and-the-grizzly/what-to-do-if-you-encounter-a-bear/117/comment-page-2/#comment-12677 NotaFool Tue, 18 Aug 2009 20:47:53 +0000 http://www.pbs.org/wnet/nature/2008/06/03/grizzly-encounters/#comment-12677 I'm not for just going out and mowing down bears, in the woods, but boy would I feel fortunate to have a firearm handy, heaven forbid, a ferotious bear (10 times stronger than me) should present a real threat. I wouldn't want to depend on kicking it in the face, trying to play roll the bear down a hill, kicking it in the nuzt or standing still (helplessly), hoping the son of a b. isn't going to follow through with ripping you to shreads. I’m not for just going out and mowing down bears, in the woods, but boy would I feel fortunate to have a firearm handy, heaven forbid, a ferotious bear (10 times stronger than me) should present a real threat. I wouldn’t want to depend on kicking it in the face, trying to play roll the bear down a hill, kicking it in the nuzt or standing still (helplessly), hoping the son of a b. isn’t going to follow through with ripping you to shreads.

]]> By: Frank http://www.pbs.org/wnet/nature/episodes/the-good-the-bad-and-the-grizzly/what-to-do-if-you-encounter-a-bear/117/comment-page-2/#comment-12344 Frank Tue, 28 Jul 2009 15:55:52 +0000 http://www.pbs.org/wnet/nature/2008/06/03/grizzly-encounters/#comment-12344 I had one charge me at Yellowstone last week. I did not invoke an attack or anything. It charged me until about 15 feet and ran away. Grizzleys are not harmless if you don't mess with them - trust me, you don't know. http://cbs4denver.com/wireapnewswy/Wyoming.man.recounts.2.1102781.html I had one charge me at Yellowstone last week. I did not invoke an attack or anything. It charged me until about 15 feet and ran away. Grizzleys are not harmless if you don’t mess with them – trust me, you don’t know.

http://cbs4denver.com/wireapnewswy/Wyoming.man.recounts.2.1102781.html

]]> By: Johnathan Rollison http://www.pbs.org/wnet/nature/episodes/the-good-the-bad-and-the-grizzly/what-to-do-if-you-encounter-a-bear/117/comment-page-2/#comment-11701 Johnathan Rollison Tue, 23 Jun 2009 15:07:38 +0000 http://www.pbs.org/wnet/nature/2008/06/03/grizzly-encounters/#comment-11701 what are you people talking about? Grizzleys are harmless if you dont mess with them trust me i know. what are you people talking about? Grizzleys are harmless if you dont mess with them trust me i know.

]]> By: funny bunny http://www.pbs.org/wnet/nature/episodes/the-good-the-bad-and-the-grizzly/what-to-do-if-you-encounter-a-bear/117/comment-page-2/#comment-11622 funny bunny Fri, 19 Jun 2009 23:58:42 +0000 http://www.pbs.org/wnet/nature/2008/06/03/grizzly-encounters/#comment-11622 I loved the comment about climbing a tree and kicking the bear in the face.Very funny.Posting comments it fun I loved the comment about climbing a tree and kicking the bear in the face.Very funny.Posting comments it fun

]]> By: loite http://www.pbs.org/wnet/nature/episodes/the-good-the-bad-and-the-grizzly/what-to-do-if-you-encounter-a-bear/117/comment-page-2/#comment-11362 loite Thu, 04 Jun 2009 01:49:30 +0000 http://www.pbs.org/wnet/nature/2008/06/03/grizzly-encounters/#comment-11362 Great information. Best, most leading informatio I have ever found Great information.
Best, most leading informatio I have ever found

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