Traveling Into Bear Country

I am not worried about traveling into bear country as I have backpacked in their
territory for many years. But I get asked a lot if I am worried about it especially by my father.  So today's study lesson is how to travel in bear country. 

Most brown bears avoid people.  Very few people actually see a brown bear and out of that number even fewer people are even threatened.  In the first 85 years of the 1900's only 20 people were killed by bears, from 1975 -1985, 19 people were killed by dogs in Alaska. 

Basic Travel Fact Number 1: Let the bears know your there. We do a lot of singing when we are hiking.  That way the bears know your coming.  Glacier National Park tells people to yoddle.  You can take a whistle and blow on it every so often. 

Basic Travel Fact Number 2: Don't camp on a bear trail.  Obviously!

Basic Travel Fact Number 3: Travel around carcasses as bears are scavengers too and may come to feed or it may be a bears cache of stored food which they will protect aggressively.

Bear Travel Fact Number 4: Respect their space, use a longer lens when photographing.

Bear Travel Fact Number 5: Don't let the bears get human food or garbage (which to them is the same thing).  Keep food stored away from camp site and out of reach of bears.  Don't cook things like bacon and fish.  Don't let food smells get on your clothes.  Burn garbage that can be burned and pack out the rest. If your fishing when you see a bear stop. If the fish is on your line don't let him splash, cut the line if you have to.  You don't want to teach the bear that a meal is on the end of the line.

Bear Travel Fact Number 6:  If you see a bear try to avoid it.  They will avoid you if given the chance. 

Bear Travel Fact Number 7:  Identify yourself.  Talk in a normal voice and wave your arms.  Don't worry if the bear stands up he is only curious.

Bear Travel Fact Number 8: Don't try to out run a bear. They can run up to 35 mph.  If they get too close yell, bang pots and pans, or use other noise makers.  Never make growling sounds or high pitch squeals.

Bear Travel Fact Number 9: If a bear actually makes contact, surrender.  Fall to the ground and play dead.  Lie flat on your stomach, or curl up in a ball with your hands behind your neck.  A bear will break off it's 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 return.  If the bear continues biting you long after you assume a defensive posture it is likely a  predatory attack so fight back vigorously.