Bears - how often and how to deal with?

[Pivvay]

If you are going to sleep with it (I have) then you damn well better be willing to protect it. Just make sure you know that.

[HopeHal]

I see people with 'bear proof' food containers.  I have been told that they are now required in many places.  Never tried them.  Perhaps an alternative to sleeping with food in tent in places without adequate places to hang the food.

Hard to imagine a griz being stopped by anything...to judge at least from looking at videos and reading stories.

I'm told that the mosquitoes are far more fearsome in AK than the bears.

[Pangaea]

I just wanted to say that this all looks like some pretty good info. I just finished a ride of the colorado trail, and camped out in my bivy bag the entire trip. I didnt see any bears with the exception of one night camping out real close to the town of breckenridge. You could actually call it stealth camping as I was actually in town, in a lot of trees. I had been hearing from the locals that they were having alot of black bears (only kind in co) coming down into town. Well as I was fading out into slumberland that night I heard a loud "sniff sniff" right in my face. I carried no tent, and my bivy bag is really thin and light weight; its basically just my sleeping bag with the exception that the drawstring on the sleeping bag cover (bivy bag) cinches down to almost closed- I had about a 3-4 " opening left; enough to breath, and enough to keep the rain out. Anyway some animal that sounded really large got freaked, after it smelled what was in this big blue bag, which probably looked like a big bag of food, and with what sounded like the thrashing and accelerating of a large mobile mass of mammal, it was gone very quickly, although noisily. I think my face was about 4'' from a bears face but cant say for sure. It just seems likely that in the region I was in, deer or elk are the only animals that could or would make that much noise running off, and I just cant imagine either of them making a huge sniff sound in my face like that, or even being curious about a big blue bag. So now I wished I could of gotten a glimpse of it- like a huge bear head right in my face. I dunno it just seems like it would make for a more wild memory, not to mention a better story, but anyway Ive had 4 bear encounters the previous year- 2 were running away at the same time and the other 2 were in my hometown and in each case on my bike they were just minding their business looking for food in dumpsters.........(which I hope they didnt find) ...........and the last thing. I just read a book about bears that said you should not sleep in a sleeping bag alone without a tent for the psychological reasoning that to a bear a tent looks basically bigger and wouldnt want to mess with it, it mentioned bright colors attracting bears and camping above tree line in the open as other things which would attract more than not.  It also said not to pee near your camp as bears are attracted to the smell of your urine (not just the perverted ones it seems) This book also mentioned perfumes, and soaps, and toothpaste and basically just pleasant smelling things in general are all an attractant of bears. (Maybe its good there are not more showers along the CO trail. ..Ha)....With that being said, I usually got up to pee in the middle of the night and just peed closer to my feet instead of closer to which way my head was laying since If they were coming for my urine Id rather have them messing around by my feet........ anyway Peace and Happy trails, Pangaea

[jonesy792]

wow thats quite the story pangaea.  I've never encountered bear before but had one guy tell me about a bear going through his panniers when we were on the CT.  I carry bear mace, not small or lightweight but it feels good to be able to deter any curious/aggressive critters (not just bear, I have been chased by a pack of dogs before).

[Pangaea]

Lol yeah, I can definately think of some times where I would have enjoyed a can of bear spray, for all those pesky, and sometimes frightening, chasing dogs. Road touring can often drive me mad with dogs to the point of wishing I had a can, especially for one german shepard in general, even if for no other reason than revenge...........ha oh well better to stick to singletrack anyway Ive found. less dogs, more beauty........

[jerryric]

This the canister free method I use to store food while on the trail

http://www.backpackinglight.com/cgi-bin/backpackinglight/bear_bag_hanging_technique.html

Substitute knowledge for the .44, back it up with BOTH the karma and spray. Those 3 are infinitely more effective plans than the firearm option.

[Eric]

just FYI,
those "odor Proof" bags are pretty worthless, I just had some friends get their food ransacked in the arctic. The only food that was touched was the stuff in the odor bag. Go figure..
maybe they did not have it closed right. but there you have it, field testing...

[Keithhn]

 I was backpacking the Jamison lake trail near Graeagle last weekend and saw a bear. I barely had time to put the leash back on my dog and it split back into the woods. Amazing how fast they are for such a large animal. It was an amazing animal and it was cool getting to see one in the wild. I just purchased an ursasack and will use baking soda in the bag as well as for toothpaste, deodorant, and for washing my cooking pot.

[riverfever]

This big boy was camped out in my backyard for several hours last week.

[John G]

Some bears are figuring out the canisters now....

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/07/25/nyregion/25bear.htm

[wdlandparker]

I carry spray just cause I am an uber paranoid wuss who bushwacks a lot and dont take no chances, 'specially with the insanely habituated bears where i live...stupid tourist leave their garbage out and feed them. but in reality i wouldnt be worried except about grizzlies.

[jobes]

man if I saw a bear, I'm hoping the submissive thing would work cuz I'd probably pass out where I was and hope he took me as no threat and left me alone.

[multisportscott]

Hello everyone who posted or is watching this thread.
Well we are currently doing the GDMBR.
We have had three separate bear incidents so far! First and second one was on day TWO! First was a Grizzly Mum and 2 cubs, seriously the worst situation but we are still alive  The mum actually false charged us. Gave us a big fright but all good.
The 2nd and 3rd were small black bears and not too bad. Just called and they trotted off.
It is intense at the time but it is AWESOME.
Seen lots of Moose too.
What an awesome country you guys have.
DO the GDMBR if you ever have the chance.
Cheers, Scott and Jo

[DaveC]

It's the season for bears to be moving, and eating, and being ornery.  I saw five bears in one day on a hike in Glacier two weeks ago.  (four Griz, one blackie)  All of the Griz were either eating with great focus, or moving from one drainage to another (to I presume find food).  Seems like some times of year might call for more caution than others.

[Pivvay]

Probably so Dave. Now they're on a mission to get fat. They (well blackies anyway) wander down into Boulder frequently enough this time of year that the parks put up signs warning people.

[delete this account]

 

[wahday]

I have been meaning to get some bear spray but so far have not. It’s a good idea, though, and is apparently very effective. I camp regularly in bear country though I have never had an encounter while camping. I cook far from my tent, clean dishes away from that and hang a bag in yet another location. I also don’t use conventional toothpaste, but rather one drop of Dr. Bronner’s. Toothpaste is evidently very attractive to bears.

I make it a point to camp among some trees specifically for hanging a bag. My last outing, two weekends ago, was in some pretty desolate territory and by the time I reached a treed area, it was getting pretty late. Still, I slept better knowing I would most likely have food in the morning (as opposed to BEING food in the morning). I had seen LOTS of bear evidence (tracks, scat, and a host of anthills dug out by bears – their prints were all over them…)

This is a tricky time here as the weather is turning and bears are looking to fatten up before the winter. In some of the areas I ride/camp there have also been regional wildfires in recent years that displaced bears who wandered around looking for food and were pretty desperate (ie.  more volatile).

So, always be careful in bear country! When in doubt, if there is an item (like deodorant, power bar, whatever) you are unsure about, better to err on the side of caution and DO NOT bring it in your tent!! Ever since I spent my honeymoon in Denali NP, I have been extra vigilant about bear encounters. Because, even if a bear gets your stuff and doesn't bother you, once it has a taste of human food, it will seek out more and eventually, may have to be killed by authorities. And that ain't no good...

[Mario]

It not a bad thing once in a while for humans not to be at the top of the food chain, but like Eric said don't be bearanoid.
Here is something to put things in perspective:

Average Number of Deaths by critters per Year in the U.S

Bee/Wasp 53
Dogs 31
Spider 6.5
Rattlesnake 5.5
Mountain lion 1
Shark 1
Alligator 0.3
Bear 0.5
Scorpion 0.5
Centipede 0.5
Elephant 0.25
Wolf 0.1
Horse 20
Bull 3

[Slim]

Get a bunch of OPsak's, (http://www.loksak.com/products/opsak, the odor-proof and waterproof bags.

They will help avoid attracting bears, help protect your food from mice and raccoons, keep your food dry, and keep smelly garbage/TP etc from fouling your pack.

I use the large ones as a food bag (typically inside an Ursack) and the smaller ones instead of stuffsacks for toiletries etc. and snacks or for premade oatmeal servings, that I pour hot water in and eat out of.

I would definitely carry bearspray in grizzly country or in areas known for problem black bears (like Yosemite). Here in MN, the black bears are not very troublesome. If you do bring bearspray, make sure you can whip it out instantly, including on toilet breaks.

edit:
Just read eric's post.....

[sub-xero]

Has anyone ever used bear spray on a bear and got away with it? I am curious since everyone recommends it but I never read a story about anyone ever having used it.