Black bear---sometimes the unexpected happens

[Spaceman Spiff]

When we think of risk in terms of 'the odds', one of the implicit assumptions is that all members of the collective are the same . . .

A bear that's attacked/killed a human before and not been put-down is many, MANY times more likely to do so again . . .

The odds are interesting starting points to evaluate relative risk. But there are additional relevant & significant variables to take into account when considering bear-attack risk.

When one is talking about a collective group (boondocking van dwellers) 'the odds' as you call it is the only metric that makes sense.  As an individual you can move those odds in either direction based on your actions but as a group the statistics hold.  An individual's chances of attack are binary: either you are attacked or you are not.  That is not helpful.

The things one can do to minimize the risk have been discussed in other posts.  There are places where the chances of a bear encounter are higher, which is why I have encouraged anyone going into the wild to check with wildlife managers to learn of bear (and other) issues in their area.

As to the contention that a bear that has killed will do so again: they have a very short time in which to do it as it has been the policy in the US for at least 30 years (don't know about Canada) to find and destroy any bear that has attacked a human.  In some problem areas a bear that has broken into a food supply is destroyed ('a fed bear is a dead bear'); the Sierra is one such area, as is the enforcement of proper food storage.

My reason for posting was to show that as far as risk goes bear attacks are way down on the list of things that can happen to you.  Don't let it stop you from going to and enjoying bear habitat.

 -- Spiff

 

[XFILE36]

Short answer is YES.

https://www.backpacker.com/stories/ask-a-bear-do-i-need-to-bear-bag-unopened-freeze-dried-foods

There are places where the chances of a bear encounter are higher, which is why I have encouraged anyone going into the wild to check with wildlife managers to learn of bear (and other) issues in their area.

Spiff, I read the article and it mentions canisters.  So metal canisters would prevent the scent from permeating?  Also, where we camped and encountered a bear there weren't ANY other humans around, including wildlife managers.  It was so secluded we were able to drink out of the creek.  I guess the trash wasn't properly put away.  Even empty cans are attractive to bears, and empty MRE pouches. :dodgy:

 

[Spaceman Spiff]

XFILES36:  The canisters mentioned are approved bear proof backpacking canisters, tested by a rather clever captive bear.  It doesn't eliminate smell; it just doesn't 'reward' the bear for trying, thus not incentivizing it to continue trying.  It would be very difficult to completely eliminate smells.  We have ~ 1 million scent receptors in our noses, my beagle has ~ 30M, a bear has 50M+ (I counted  ).  I've thought about making a bear proof locker, but in 50+ years of camping in bear country I've never had a problem.

My routine is to first contact the managing office of the area(s) I plan on staying in, usually when I first enter the area.  National Forest offices are not hard to locate.  BLM offices not so much; for those areas I usually contact the Sheriff's  office.  They will be aware of any problems with wildlife, poachers, drug activity, closures, etc.  In remote areas I have gone for two weeks without seeing anyone outside my own party, so unless the area you are hiking is popular the chances of meeting a ranger is small.

I always filter (or treat) my water.  I don't think there is anywhere in the world that the surface water is completely safe to drink.  15 years ago we were cautioned to treat glacier melt water in the remote Alaska Range.  Giardia (Beaver Fever, Hershey Squirts) is not something you want anyone in your party to get, especially when more than an hour or two from medical help.

I always treat garbage the same as food.  Even burning doesn't seem to eliminate the smell.  I've seen sign of bears digging in fire rings, digging out cans, etc.

 -- Spiff

 

[XFILE36]

I always filter (or treat) my water.  I don't think there is anywhere in the world that the surface water is completely safe to drink.  15 years ago we were cautioned to treat glacier melt water in the remote Alaska Range.  Giardia (Beaver Fever, Hershey Squirts) is not something you want anyone in your party to get, especially when more than an hour or two from medical help.

Spiff,

It was MANY years ago that I was 15, so I think things have changed for the worse environmentally, unfortunately.  We still boiled the water back then and had no problems.  I would NOT do it now though.  So back to bears.

 

[Blanch]

I have lived in bear country for decades. Never a problem. Ask the local NFS or BLM office what precautions to take and follow them. You will be fine. It is just like a campfire, you have to be careful and make sure you put it out completely, otherwise you have no business lighting a campfire.

Know what type of bears are in the area, grizzlies are far different than the black bear of the Sierras. People freak out and fear so much. Just ask for the rules and do what you are told......

Once upon a time, in the 1960's in Yosemite, they had bleachers at the park dump. You could sit in the bleachers and when the trash trucks arrived so did the bears. They would rummage through and eat the trash as tourists in the stands watched. This created a big bear problem as they stopped hunting and became scavengers of human waste. We know better now.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[XFILE36]

Here's a video on bears in case anyone is interested from the Smoky Mnts youtube channel.

 

[highdesertranger]

in Kings Canyon or Sequoia National Park, at the moment I can't remember which one. the bears learned to open the portable bear proof containers. it's called evolution. highdesertranger

 

[XFILE36]

in Kings Canyon or Sequoia National Park,  at the moment I can't remember which one.  the bears learned to open the portable bear proof containers.  it's called evolution. 

I think it's called "conditioning" unfortunately.

 

[Dennis]

Don't leave the keys in the ignition or they will be driving away in your vehicle.

 

[lenny flank]

Alas, humans are very very bad at judging the risks (or benefits) of rare events. That's why newbie backpackers are afraid of bears and snakes, why newbie van-dwellers are afraid of serial killers, and why casinos and state lotteries stay in business.

 

[WalkaboutTed]

This is why you don't want to climb a tree to get away from a black bear. There are two bears in that tree. The bottom one was at least 50 feet off the ground. This was between Banff and Jasper.

 

[TrainChaser]

An acquaintance that camps says she takes her trusty Bear Deterrents with her... if a bear is nearby, she picks up her two large metal pot lids and bangs them together. The bears don't seem to like it, and seem to leave immediately. She got the idea from the racket her son was making with two metal garbage can lids, but she decided against those lids, due to the garbage smell + the noise might confuse the bear.

 

[Spaceman Spiff]

 . . . she picks up her two large metal pot lids and bangs them together.

That'll work.  A little cumbersome to carry on a hike but in camp my mother used a frying pan and a very large spoon.

At the recommendation of guys who have frequent bear encounters (Alaskan fishing guides) I carry a boat horn.  Small (about the size of a asthma inhaler), light, and very loud.  If you use it don't plan on seeing any wildlife for a while.

 -- Spiff

 

[Ballenxj]

Don't leave the keys in the ignition or they will be driving away in your vehicle.

Yogi, or BooBoo?

 

[lenny flank]

Yogi, or BooBoo?

They're smarter than your average bear, ya know....

 

[Richard]

Ok, this blew my mind:

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. - A bear entered a Colorado home Monday night, causing damage and raiding the refrigerator — all while the homeowner slept upstairs.

Wildlife officials believe the 375-pound bear is the same one that has raided garage freezers for ice cream in the same neighborhood recently.

Homeowner Chris O’Dubhraic told The Gazette the bear got in through a window that was slightly open, and roamed around the house before trashing the pantry and kitchen.

MUST WATCH: Bear enters Colorado home, raids refrigerator

Apparently the bear roamed around the house (as caught by in-home video) for FIVE HOURS while the homewoner slept.

 

[Dennis]

I saw that on the news and it didn't look like the first time it had burglarized a kitchen. Hope that wasn't Yogi...