well, really, you are supposed to carry a bag of Dorito's Sweet Chili Heat chips with you at all times. When you see a bear you're supposed to take a bite of one. Since there's 3 sides to every one of those chips (hot,bold, or sweet), what side you bite into determines how you handle the bear. Here is an instructional video:
*the bear in the video is a grizzly, and you can see this actual bear at Doug's exotic animal zoo in Innisfail, and he will pose in pictures with you, and just after he did this commercial apparently people recreated this ad with the bear, as he still remembered the commands. (so I was told by my cousin, not sure if it's true)
From what you've described it sounds like you encountered a cinnamon coloured black bear. A grizzly probably would have been far more aggressive.
Since I live in a little town built in essentially a muskeg in the middle of a forest, bear encounters occur very regularly, so most of the people up here have learned how to deal with them. When I moved up here I was told quite a few things to do, some of which have been mentioned already.
Making lots of noise when you go hiking is a good one, as it usually means they will hear you long before you can get close enough to startle them.
Bear scares (or bangers as people have called them) work ok if you end up close to one anyway, but if you live in an area where people have used them lots they usually won't do anything.
The best thing to use (according to concensus up here) is one of those compressed air horns. (like the ones that always seem to find their way into the hands of idiots who sit behind you and use them right beside your ear whenever you go to a Flame's game )
There's also a few people up here who swear by bear repellant. Have also heard wearing a strong cologne or perfume, or lots of deep woods off works, anything that bothers a bear's nose. Not sure how well that works though, if at all.
As far as what to do when you startle a bear, have heard many different things, which have also been mentioned already. I think a lot depends on the bear itself really, and what time of the year you encounter them. They will be more aggressive when they first come out of hibernation, as they are more hungry, and also if a mother is protecting her cubs they will be extremely aggressive.
Sounds though like you've gotten a lot of good advice in this thread, everyone's pretty much covered everything. Now you can go find some bears and try it all
__________________ Nothing like rediscovering one of the greatest bands ever!
Last edited by Crispy's Critter; 07-13-2008 at 02:47 PM.
Reason: forgot how to do youtube :(
Last Review/Updated: July 9, 2002
There are no hard and fast rules about what to do when you confront a bear. Bears react to humans in different ways in different situations: depending on the bear's sex, age, health, the season, whether the bear is hungry, whether bear cubs are present, or there is an escape route available to the bear. Never harass or chase a bear! On the Trail
Bear encounters on the trail can be dangerous, especially if the bear is surprised or if it is a sow with cubs. The bear may consider you a threat and either run away or attempt to remove you as a threat. If you encounter a bear on a trail,
Stop! Try to stay calm and quiet. Do not make any sudden moves or loud noises! Avoid direct eye contact with the bear!
Size up the situation. Is it a black bear or a grizzly? Are there cubs, and where are they in relation to you and the bear? Where is the rest of your party? (Stay together as a group. A group of people is less likely to be attacked than an individual.)
Do not run from the bear! You cannot out run it!
Talk quietly and slowly back up; give the bear enough time and room to leave on its own. Look for and climb a suitable tree if you have room and the time to do so. Get at least 4 metres (13 feet) off the ground. If the bear continues to move toward you, drop any personal items to distract the bear. However, hold on to large objects, such as a backpack, that could be used as a weapon in case of a predatory attack (see In Case of Attack).
If the bear keeps coming at you, climb the tree as high as you can. Remember, some grizzlies and all black bears can climb trees; but you climbing a tree may cause the bear to feel less threatened.
Most likely it was a black bear if you were near Bragg Creek. Black bears that are brown are called cinnamon bears. It is possible it was a Grizzly - one way to tell is the ears - black bears have pointed ears, and grizzlies have rounded ears. Grizzlies also have a shoulder hump.
Most likely it was a black bear if you were near Bragg Creek. Black bears that are brown are called cinnamon bears. It is possible it was a Grizzly - one way to tell is the ears - black bears have pointed ears, and grizzlies have rounded ears. Grizzlies also have a shoulder hump.
Troutman speaks the truth. Black bears can range in color from white to black. Most are black, hence they are called black bears. A cinnamon colored one and a black one is still the same species.
Grizzlies are easy to differentiate. Much bigger and the classic hump. Black bears are much less aggressive and reclusive as well. Not that Grizzlies are overly aggressive.
__________________ I am in love with Montana. For other states I have admiration, respect, recognition, even some affection, but with Montana it is love." - John Steinbeck
So a bear and a rabbit are in the woods together and they stumble across a genie bottle. Out comes a genie and thanks them for freeing him. In return, he'll grant them 3 wishes each, starting with the bear.
"Hmm..." says the bear. "I love the ladies. So for my first wish, I'd like to be the only male bear in the entire Banff National forrest."
Granted.
"Awesome," the bear thought. "Come to think of it... I'd like to be the only male bear in the entire country!! That way, chicks will be forced to buck the nasty with me."
Granted.
"Ahh, what the hell. I'll be the only male bear in the entire WORLD so that I can have all the lady bears to myself... I'm such a pimp!"
Granted.
"And you?" the genie asked the rabbit?
"Well, I'd like a harley."
Poof. A brand new harley appears.
"I'll probably need a skid-lid for this bad-boy," the rabbit asks.
Same thing happened to me. I came out of my garage in Northern B.C. and a bear was standing right by the door, about a foot behind me. I had about 30 feet to walk to my house and I just kept walking like I didn't even see him. I think I had a heart attack when I got in the house though. I saw bears daily in my yard and just got used to it.
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