Beware of the Bears

[habernac]

get some bear spray if you're out mtn biking or hiking lots. Even when people are in numbers, there's still a danger.

http://www.canoe.ca/NewsStand/CalgarySun/N...073371-sun.html

[Calgary Flames]

Hiking is pretty damn dangerous if you think about it. It's almost how Africa has Lions, ect. We've got some pretty mean creatures ourselves. Bears, Cougars...

I always bring a hatchet in my backpack just in case... better than no defense. I don't know if a hatchet would do anything against a grizzley but a medium size cougar I could deal some damage.

Does bear spray actually work? I thought I had read that it's not very effective. I've also heard that those compressed air cans scare away park animals pretty good if you run into one.

I love hiking, but it can be pretty damn scary. Especially when you hear something in the distance that you know wasn't human.

[Calgary Flames]

I love this quote from the bottom

He was bitten by the grizzly, but managed to escape after kicking the bear in the face.

I had also heard kicking the bear in the nose fatas them up pretty good. Sensitive area for animals.

[habernac]

the spray does work, but unfortunately, you have to get REALLLY close for it to be effective.

[octothorp]

Originally posted by Calgary Flames@Jun 6 2005, 10:37 AM
I love this quote from the bottom

I had also heard kicking the bear in the nose fatas them up pretty good. Sensitive area for animals.

I hadn't heard that for bears, but I have read that you can paralyze a shark (even a great white) by punching its nose.

[Tron_fdc]

Holy shinguard I know some of those guys


and no you can't outbike a grizzly. Unless you were on a road bike, going down a very large paved hill, had legs like Armstrong and had a 30 second head start.

[Foxy]

I think it's sick that the bear was killed as a result of this attack. The unfortunate victim of the attack did exactly what you are not supposed to do during a bear encounter.

This bear did not have a history of aggression, just a natural curiosity. Now the bear has paid the ultimate price for people's ignorance. Just because there is more than one person doesn't mean that you're safe. How many bears have to be killed before we figure out that we are visitors in THEIR country, not the other way around.

CBC also has this story.

http://www.cbc.ca/story/canada/national/20...tack050606.html

[KevanGuy]

In spite of their mass size this bear runs at speeds of up to 35 mph.
http://www.fishbc.com/adventure/wilderness...als/grizzly.htm

WaveCrest claims that its two-wheeler can go Lance Armstrong speed - 30
miles an hour - with hardly any pedaling at all.

http://www.dehai.org/archives/dehai_news_a...ept03/0662.html


Now there's something I'd expect to see on FOX. When Animals Race Humans!!! Oh wait, I HAVE seen that on FOX.

[habernac]

Exactly right. These are wild animals, people. There's no telling what they'll do in any given situation. It's their land , they've been there longer, give them lots of room and lots of warning. I'll be picking up my bearspray this weekend.

[Calgary Flames]

I don't think it's sick they put the bear down. It was obviously a problem animal if they had to relocate it once before. It's their land, true but if they become a hazard to human beings something has to be done. Especially if it kills somebody.

In the animals mind, all they're thinking is "Where's the food" or "Protect the cubs" that's just nature but you can't have a bear that has killed a person still walking free.

[Mean Mr. Mustard]

Originally posted by Calgary Flames@Jun 6 2005, 02:32 PM
I don't think it's sick they put the bear down. It was obviously a problem animal if they had to relocate it once before. It's their land, true but if they become a hazard to human beings something has to be done. Especially if it kills somebody.

In the animals mind, all they're thinking is "Where's the food" or "Protect the cubs" that's just nature but you can't have a bear that has killed a person still walking free.

In the article it actually states that the bear was being monitered and that it had not shown any aggression towards humans. I don't have a huge problem with the killing of the bear, but at the same time it really wasn't a bear that had attacked humans or done anything of the sort before. All that I know is if you are going to do a lot of hiking in the mountains, invest in a bear course, as (and this comes from experience) it can be a great investment.

But the nose is a very sensitive area.... and also what gets a lot of people is when they try and climb a tree.... very stupid move.

Although what I have always sort of wondered is what impact a Taser would have on an animal such as a bear.

[FlamesAddiction]

It apparently happened on a trail that was closed to the public because it was a wildlife corridor (important to have those so the bears CAN stay away). While I feel sorry for her family because of the unfortunate event, it was a known danger. Hikers need to practice their hobby responsibly and respect wildlife.

[transplant99]

We spot bears outside our front windows, beside our cars, in our gardens....about once a week on average.

Of course they arent grizzlies, but common sense applies to all of them. You see them...move away slowly, do NOT take your eyes off them until safe, and for chrissakes...make noise. They dont like it.

[RougeUnderoos]

Originally posted by fotze+Jun 6 2005, 02:32 PM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td>QUOTE (fotze @ Jun 6 2005, 02:32 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'> <!--QuoteBegin-Foxy@Jun 6 2005, 01:57 PM
I think it's sick that the bear was killed as a result of this attack. The unfortunate victim of the attack did exactly what you are not supposed to do during a bear encounter.

This bear did not have a history of aggression, just a natural curiosity. Now the bear has paid the ultimate price for people's ignorance. Just because there is more than one person doesn't mean that you're safe. How many bears have to be killed before we figure out that we are visitors in THEIR country, not the other way around.

CBC also has this story.

http://www.cbc.ca/story/canada/national/20...tack050606.html

Are you sure you aren't my wife. That is the exact thing she said. :P

It is true that people move out there to be super close to nature, then when it get's to close, it's a shocker.

You don't see mountain climbers blaming Isaac Newton when they fall. [/b][/quote]
There was a story on 60 Minutes just last night about "problem" bears. One couple had moved, with tykes in tow, from LA to the wilds of Wyoming and the woman was griping about bears being around and being a danger to her children. Pretty smart woman obviously. The poor family had to move into town and away from there dream house out in a fataing forest because of bears. It was a real tearjerker.

[Calgary Flames]

Originally posted by RougeUnderoos+Jun 6 2005, 04:44 PM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td>QUOTE (RougeUnderoos @ Jun 6 2005, 04:44 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'>

Are you sure you aren't my wife. That is the exact thing she said. :P

It is true that people move out there to be super close to nature, then when it get's to close, it's a shocker.

You don't see mountain climbers blaming Isaac Newton when they fall.

There was a story on 60 Minutes just last night about "problem" bears. One couple had moved, with tykes in tow, from LA to the wilds of Wyoming and the woman was griping about bears being around and being a danger to her children. Pretty smart woman obviously. The poor family had to move into town and away from there dream house out in a fataing forest because of bears. It was a real tearjerker. [/b][/quote]
I saw that too... what the hell do you expect lady? Holy cripes. I remember many years ago up where Cougar Ridge is now... A Cougar was sitting on somebody's car, not sure what they did to the animal (Probably just relocated it away from population). But hell even when I bike around here It wouldn't suprise me to see a Cougar wondering around the hills near C.O.P. also didn't someone mention seeing a bear in Fish Creek last summer?

So for those Cougar Ridge peeps, you now know why Cougar Ridge is called Cougar Ridge.

[Faid1]

I think it's time we raise the bear tax.

[Hakan]

Actually, climbing a tree is a good idea if you know it's a grizzly bear. That's what you're supposed to do.

Don't climb a tree if it's a black bear though, that's a bad idea.

[Foxy]

Originally posted by Hakan@Jun 6 2005, 05:47 PM
Actually, climbing a tree is a good idea if you know it's a grizzly bear. That's what you're supposed to do.

Don't climb a tree if it's a black bear though, that's a bad idea.

When I lived in Jasper, they had a Parks Canada Warden come out to our orientation to explain the hazards of living in such wilderness. Their advice was to never, ever climb a tree, regardless of if you think or know it's a grizzly or not. I believe they have proven that grizzly bears can indeed climb, at least a bit.

The article said that he pulled her out of the tree, so that would lead me to believe that climbing the tree isn't the safe thing to do after all.

[KootenayFlamesFan]

I work in forestry, and walk in the wilderness 5 days a week. I would assume I've had more run-ins with bears and cougars than most on this board.......I'll give you my 2 cents on a few subjects in this thread.

Just a disaclaimer..........I am NOT a bear expert. These are just my opinions. Please don't shoot me if you disagree.

Bear spray: Habby's right. You have to be very close to the bear to have any kind of effectiveness. You also better make sure the wind is going the right way, or may wind up getting the stuff right back in your face. Makes it a little easier for the bear.

Quick story. I know a guy that did some work in northern B.C a few years ago and was attacked by a grizzly. Sprayed his entire canister of spray, nothing happened. The guy he was working with also unloaded his bear spray. Again, nothing happened. And these were the larger canisters, not the smaller ones you can buy at a sporting goods store. The grizz had cubs with her. Long story short, the guy I know actually had his head in the bear's jaws for a second, and suffered pretty nasty head injuries. Scary stuff.

Climbing a tree: I would do it if I had nowhere else to go. At least you have the chance of kicking it in the head. If you're on the ground, the bear has a massive, massive advantage. Also, when you're in those situations, it's a lot different than talking or reading about it. You don't have time to think. If you think climbing a tree will be safer than being on the ground......in that instant, you'll climb the tree. Even if it's not the 'correct' thing to do.

Usually bears will only attack if they have cubs with them, or if they have a kill nearby, or if they are startled. If you make lots of noise, 99% of the time, the bear will leave you alone. In fact, you'll usually never even see it or know it was there. I saw one today.......I was making noises as I walked, he saw me, he took right off. They are usually very non-confrontational. Cougars, on the other hand, are freaky SOBs. You can't hear them, and they'll stalk you. I had one do a semi-circle around me last summer. Very scary. I'm way more freaked out by cougars than bears.

I worked in one area last summer, and saw the same bear every day one week. He was pretty small, but big enough to be on his own. We saw each other, I was making noises, he left me alone. After a few days, he really could care less that I was there. We just kept our distance from each other.

On the Friday, I sat down to have a drink of water. I was looking down for a few minutes, sweating like crazy. I looked up, he was walking about 30 meters away from me. He never saw me at all. I stood up, put my cruiser's vest on and yelled. Of course, I startled him. He took about 5-6 steps towards me, and got up on his hind legs. I went to grab a rock to throw at him, and he took off.

Moral of story............make noise. I'm sure if he knew I was there, he would have steered clear as usual.

To end off.............I agree with those here that do NOT balme the bear. Whether it be me at work, or a hiker, or anyone else in the wilderness, we are trepassing into THEIR territory, they are not coming into ours (except for some garbage bears, but that's a whole other story).

If a bear or cougar attacked me because they were hungry or they were defending their territory, I could not blame them one iota.

I would do the same thing if I was them.

[icarus]

Originally posted by Calgary Flames@Jun 6 2005, 05:37 PM
I love this quote from the bottom

Yep, that was my buddy Lyle. It was pretty surprising to be watching the National over the Internet here in England and see my friend getting interviewed about the bear attack he survived. Ol' Swift Foot shall be his new nickname I guess.

Here is the story from another friend of mine who was there at the time: http://www.jamespeters.ca/Grizzly.htm

As for the bike, here's a story. A guy I know (incidentally Lyle knows him too) was mountain biking near Canmore. This guy is a hardcore mountain biker and bikes all over the Rockies on a regular occasion. Anyway he was flying along this trail one day, came over a little ridge and t-boned a grizzly bear with his bike. Unsure what to do and confident he was about to get eaten, he lifted the bike above his head and started shouting at the bear. Miraculously, the bear, still dazed from being biked into, just gave him a quizzical look and sauntered back into the woods and everyone lived happily ever after.