Yikes! It's smelled you; It has NOT backed...

My husband frequents the Aluetian Islands and came home with some very interesting facts for me from his last training.

Although many of you will not be going to Alaska, it is still possible to come into contact with a bear. These animals live all over North America and because of housing and commercial development, we keep impeading on their homes.

Did you know bears can run up to 35 miles per hour? You really cannot outrun a bear.

You have two choices:

Play Dead
Fight Back

The best method is prevention: Make noise when you are hiking. (Talk aloud, bang a stick....) Keep your food and cooksite AWAY from camp. Keep your garbage lids on tight and away from the house.

Have any of you ever come into contact with a bear?

I did years ago... a brown bear with her two little ones. Luckily, I was right next to my car! I jumped in a sped off. She was far too close for comfort. (about 20 yards away!)

They were beautiful and smelly!

Comments: 16

Mary G. Nov 5, 2009, 5:19am EST

I hope to never be close enough to consider running.

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DIANE D. Nov 5, 2009, 7:46am EST

Thanks for the tips~

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Tracey C. Nov 5, 2009, 9:25am EST

I would probably play dead. I read about that method years ago. Supposedly also works with mountain lions, and i sincerely hope to never be close enough to either one to have to attempt it! LOL

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Kathryn E. Nov 5, 2009, 9:59am EST

I want to know if this training was for all bears in Alaska and if it included information about the Grizzly. When we were in Alaska, we were camping in Denali, and had to put all our food in a bear proof locker. We were told the best method for grizzlies (apart from never seeing them unless you are on the tour bus, which we were) is to play dead.

Every year, people in Alaska are killed by grizzlies. But Yellowstone is more dangerous, because the bears long ago lost their fear of people.

if you start giving people food to your pets, that is what they want. We do that. But it is the same relationship with food.

Featured in the Triple Name Club.

Carrie Marie P. Nov 5, 2009, 4:21pm EST

It was just a quick training covering all bears in general. They told him the numbers are lower than people think about bear attacks...
Alaska really is the last wild frontier... and I am not a frontier woman!

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Kathryn E. Nov 5, 2009, 10:01am EST

We have coyotes and skunk and fox and wild turkey in the suburbs now, as well as pheasant and raccoons are beginning to come back. We do not sleep outdoors because of the coyotes, which are half a mile from us. And I am very close to Boston proper. Skunks are within feet of us and one crossed my children's path as they walked to school.

We have mountain lions in the Berkshires, as well as bear.

Carrie Marie P. Nov 5, 2009, 4:23pm EST

We had two raccoons at our front door two nights ago foraging for food. It was my fault... I left the kitty treats outside! It sounded like they were knocking at the door.
They were not scared of me at all. I told them to scat and they just stared at me.
I'm okay with them eating from the same fruit trees as I do in the yard, but not hanging out at my front door!

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Guy W. Nov 5, 2009, 11:06am EST

The smell never leaves you, does it?

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dreama e. Nov 5, 2009, 11:56am EST

thanks for sharing

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Love from Darlene! Nov 5, 2009, 2:56pm EST

I have only seen bears at a distance at our local zoo.
Scary, to see them up close since I do not run fast and the bear will know I am not dead.

Carrie Marie P. Nov 5, 2009, 4:24pm EST

I know right! I don't think I would be able to stop screaming...

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Jennifer K. Nov 6, 2009, 11:19am EST

I used to go to a camp in Ozark, IL when I was in grammar school. They had a bear there that was actually more like a pet. His name was Tommy the bear. He did snip at a child or something and there was a big to do about having him put down. I believe the camp won, and Tommy stuck around for a little while longer. If I remember correctly the child pulled his ear or something.

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Elizabeth R. Nov 8, 2009, 2:51am EST

I have never encountered a bear while camping. We did everything for safety. Placed the foot at least 100 yards from the camp site then hoisted those supplies way up a tree. Yes, I know that some bears can climb, but there were so many deer in the area all the time. I would hear them passing through our camp site every night. They were just grazing, but they do make a lot of noise. LOL!

PIF

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