Bear risk/spray?

[FlyingScot]

A week ago on my morning walk a small bear crossed the road approx 50 yds in front of me. He was only 3' or a bit more off the ground, and I have a typical male ego, so this did not bother me too much. But now I can't stop thinking that coming across his mom may bother me quite a bit. I've repeated the walk a couple of times, but it is not as carefree as it once was.

Any thoughts on bear safety and/or bear spray would be appreciated. Thanks

[thinkxingu]

We see bears quite often in our camp and on our hikes, the last time being a week ago in the Castle in the Clouds property.

A little noise always gets them moving into the woods, so we've never bothered with bear bells, spray, etc.

Dogs, or other things that might wander in the woods, would do well with something jingly on their bodies, but otherwise just be attentive and prepared to stand tall and booga booga booga.

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[fatlazyless]

Here's a brief encounter ..... www.youtube.com/watch?v=nM6qTno87Uw ...... with a black bear in Port Coquitlam, British Columbia, Canada in 2024, sometime.

Some comments:

"Child did right not trying to speed away."

"Always T-pose to assert dominance. Bears are gamers too."

[SAB1]

They are more afraid of you than you of them. I’ve run into them many times and most of the time when they see you they run away. I don’t like getting near a sow with cubs but every time this has happened the cubs have gone up a tree and the sow follows. At that point I watch them and very slowly back out of the area.

[winni83]

While the comments about black bears being afraid of humans are generally true, I had an experience which was the exception to that. While deer hunting in northern NH several years ago I was, so I thought, well concealed just off an old logging road. I saw the small trees on the other side of the road moving and thought this might be a deer. But it was a very large black bear who entered the road about 150 yards beyond my spot. I did not move and assumed the bear would simply cross the logging road and continue on into the woods. Instead, in the middle of the road, it stood up and caught my scent and started moving down the road towards me. I did all of recommended tactics, standing up, making myself as large as possible and making a lot of noise. The bear simply quickened its pace towards me, popping its jaws. I yelled louder and the bear kept on coming. When the bear was about 100 feet from me, I took the safety off and put a round in the dirt just behind him, then put another round in the chamber with the sights on its vitals. Thankfully the one shot convinced the bear to continue on its journey, but for the rest of the day I perfected the task of taking a leak with the rifle in one hand. No harm to human or bear but it was disconcerting.

[Slickcraft]

Originally Posted by winni83

While the comments about black bears being afraid of humans are generally true, I had an experience which was the exception to that. While deer hunting in northern NH several years ago I was, so I thought, well concealed just off an old logging road. I saw the small trees on the other side of the road moving and thought this might be a deer. But it was a very large black bear who entered the road about 150 yards beyond my spot. I did not move and assumed the bear would simply cross the logging road and continue on into the woods. Instead, in the middle of the road, it stood up and caught my scent and started moving down the road towards me. I did all of recommended tactics, standing up, making myself as large as possible and making a lot of noise. The bear simply quickened its pace towards me, popping its jaws. I yelled louder and the bear kept on coming. When the bear was about 100 feet from me, I took the safety off and put a round in the dirt just behind him, then put another round in the chamber with the sights on its vitals. Thankfully the one shot convinced the bear to continue on its journey, but for the rest of the day I perfected the task of taking a leak with the rifle in one hand. No harm to human or bear but it was disconcerting.

I must agree that your encounter was disconcerting. It sounds like you have years of experience in the woods, like us. In my 70+ years hunting, hiking and just walking in the woods, from here to Alaska, I never had a direct encounter with a bear black or brown (lots of sightings). So, your encounter, while very real, was not the norm. You are in more danger driving to the grocery store. However, like wearing safety belts it is good to know how to react to a bear no matter how rare an encounter may be.

Alan

[ishoot308]

Originally Posted by Slickcraft

I must agree that your encounter was disconcerting. It sounds like you have years of experience in the woods, like us. In my 70+ years hunting, hiking and just walking in the woods, from here to Alaska, I never had a direct encounter with a bear black or brown (lots of sightings). So, your encounter, while very real, was not the norm. You are in more danger driving to the grocery store. However, like wearing safety belts it is good to know how to react to a bear no matter how rare an encounter may be.

Alan

Well said Alan!

Dan

[John Mercier]

Originally Posted by FlyingScot

A week ago on my morning walk a small bear crossed the road approx 50 yds in front of me. He was only 3' or a bit more off the ground, and I have a typical male ego, so this did not bother me too much. But now I can't stop thinking that coming across his mom may bother me quite a bit. I've repeated the walk a couple of times, but it is not as carefree as it once was.

Any thoughts on bear safety and/or bear spray would be appreciated. Thanks

Sorry, we only have pepper spray.
That wouldn't even slow a sow thinking her cub may be in danger.

[Winilyme]

I say get the spray if it will give you peace of mind. I've read it's very effective (and works for other wildlife as well).

Never know when one will run across the exception bear.

[Billy603]

Last summer racoons kept visiting my second story deck. One night I was in bed and heard a noise out there. I got up and went out to the deck in my underwear to scare the intruder off. Got out there and turned to my right, and just sitting there, about 5 feet from me, was a bear facing me. I froze, the bear looked me over, got up, turned around, and casually went back down to ground level and waddled away.

So, while I have not tested this theory since, seeing a human in their underwear might be enough to scare a bear off.

[Winilyme]

Originally Posted by Billy603

Last summer racoons kept visiting my second story deck. One night I was in bed and heard a noise out there. I got up and went out to the deck in my underwear to scare the intruder off. Got out there and turned to my right, and just sitting there, about 5 feet from me, was a bear facing me. I froze, the bear looked me over, got up, turned around, and casually went back down to ground level and waddled away.

So, while I have not tested this theory since, seeing a human in their underwear might be enough to scare a bear off.

LOL. Perhaps FlyingScot can test this theory during his next walk.

[FlyingScot]

Thanks all for the responses. The forum is great for stuff like this!

While I've been telling myself the chances are low, it's the risk of an experience like Winni83's that worries me. Although I do not hunt myself, I have a friend who is a bow hunter, and he always goes out with a handgun too, just in case.

I picked up bear spray at the outdoors store in Wolfeboro, and it came with small holster I can clip onto the back of my belt. The guy in the store said he's sold a lot this year

[thinkxingu]

Originally Posted by FlyingScot

Thanks all for the responses. The forum is great for stuff like this!

While I've been telling myself the chances are low, it's the risk of an experience like Winni83's that worries me. Although I do not hunt myself, I have a friend who is a bow hunter, and he always goes out with a handgun too, just in case.

I picked up bear spray at the outdoors store in Wolfeboro, and it came with small holster I can clip onto the back of my belt. The guy in the store said he's sold a lot this year

I think that's a reasonable decision, especially since it's not lethal and pretty lightweight.

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[Descant]

Originally Posted by FlyingScot

Thanks all for the responses. The forum is great for stuff like this!

While I've been telling myself the chances are low, it's the risk of an experience like Winni83's that worries me. Although I do not hunt myself, I have a friend who is a bow hunter, and he always goes out with a handgun too, just in case.

I picked up bear spray at the outdoors store in Wolfeboro, and it came with small holster I can clip onto the back of my belt. The guy in the store said he's sold a lot this year

What's the range of the spray? How far away can a bear smell those honey and peanut energy bars they sell next to the check out? What else do hikers carry that attracts bears? Like when you o berrying?

[SAB1]

I believe it’s good out 60 ft

[FlyingScot]

My can says 32', though I guess they vary. I don't think I'd do more than unholster and aim unless the bear was closer than that and coming towards me. In addition to not wanting to hurt the bear, I would worry about spraying inaccurately and then being unarmed. OTOH, you gotta think they're pretty quick...

[thinkxingu]

Originally Posted by FlyingScot

My can says 32', though I guess they vary. I don't think I'd do more than unholster and aim unless the bear was closer than that and coming towards me. In addition to not wanting to hurt the bear, I would worry about spraying inaccurately and then being unarmed. OTOH, you gotta think they're pretty quick...

Honestly, specifically with black bears, if a situation occurs it's probably already too late as it would almost exclusively be a situation you didn't know you were in, like getting between a mommy and her cubs. The spray should make you feel good, though!

Barring the above totally unique and almost unheard of occurrence, black bears are just not going to engage. They might move off slowly, but they'll move.

Brown and grizzly bears, on the other hand...

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[winni83]

While I certainly agree that my experience was the exception to the generally held beliefs about encounters with black bears, it does underscore the need to be prepared for the unexpected. A further complication is that in many areas of the state, bears may have become habituated to the presence of humans. In my situation, could the charge by the bear have been a bluff charge? Certainly possible, but my decision to fire a warning shot when it was about 100 feet away was based on the fact that the usual recommendations about standing up, etc. did not work and in fact seemed to aggravate the bear. As best I could tell, especially after sitting still for a long period after the shot, there were no cubs in the area. I have never used bear spray but have read that it can be effective. If I had bear spray when this incident occurred, I would most definitely have chosen the warning shot over the spray given the rapidly closing distance. How much time do you have to determine if it is a bluff charge and what are you going to do if it is not a bluff? That said, certainly bear spray is better than nothing. Consider the following from the National Park Service on bear attacks, stressing that in the event of a black bear attack, you need to fight back or it may not end well. Do I think that as a general rule you should carry a firearm when you go for a hike – certainly not. But bear spray is a good suggestion. After my experience, I am extremely wary of black bears but I do not generally arm myself for a hike.

“If a black bear charges and attacks you, FIGHT BACK WITH EVERYTHING YOU HAVE! Do not play dead. Direct punches and kicks at the bear’s face, and use any weapon like rocks, branches, or bear spray to defend yourself.
If a grizzly/brown bear charges and attacks you, PLAY DEAD. Do not fight back!”

[ITD]

I was told a while back that if you see a bear, make sure it sees you. Don't run, stand your ground if it charges. Otherwise, don't talk nice to it, don't make it feel welcome, make noise and try to scare it away with the noise. Bears getting comfortable around people is a likely death sentence for the bear. Bring in your bird feeders, and secure trash and garbage.

If your uncomfortable, carry bear spray, but I would only use it as a last resort, as other's have said bears want nothing to do with you. The only problem with that is when people feed them either intentionally or by leaving bird feeders out repeatedly.

[SAB1]

Originally Posted by ITD

I was told a while back that if you see a bear, make sure it sees you. Don't run, stand your ground if it charges. Otherwise, don't talk nice to it, don't make it feel welcome, make noise and try to scare it away with the noise. Bears getting comfortable around people is a likely death sentence for the bear. Bring in your bird feeders, and secure trash and garbage.

If your uncomfortable, carry bear spray, but I would only use it as a last resort, as other's have said bears want nothing to do with you. The only problem with that is when people feed them either intentionally or by leaving bird feeders out repeatedly.

Pretty much spot on. If you go to Yellowstone the Rangers will tell you the same . Makes noise, clap your hands and rarely are they a problem. Grizzly’s would make me nervous though. Black bears can run 35mph