April 20, 2021 Sharon No Comments

As the nice summer weather is approaching, many of us are planning ahead for our summer activities. Unfortunately, with international travels out of the picture for the next little while, the only safe alternative is for us to go outdoors and enjoy what mother nature has to offer.

For many of us this year, going on a hike with our pets is on the list. However, the hibernating giants, the brown and black bears, are also out and about. So, be sure to stay safe and learn the dos and don’ts should you come face-to-face with a bear.

Now, these adorable giants are amazing to admire from afar, but if you invade their space and mess with them the wrong way, you are going to be in a bad situation. Although most bear encounters are rather harmless, some encounters are not as fortunate. A general rule of thumb is to gear up for a potential bear encounter before stepping foot into the wild and try to avoid wild bear encounters at all costs.

Don’ts

• Do not scream or talk in a high-pitched voice as this can potentially agitate the bear and trigger an attack.
• Do not pretend that you are a bear nor should you make bear sounds to scare off an actual bear.
• Do not run away because running away will only excite the bear to run after you. Trust me, you can’t outrun a bear.
• Do not make direct eye contact because this is seen as a taunting behavior.
• Do not climb trees. If Winnie the Pooh can climb trees to get honey, a real bear can too!
• Do not drop your backpack as the backpack can be helpful in protecting you during an attack.
• Do not touch or go near a bear cub because an irritated mother is most likely nearby.
• Do not use pepper spray when the bear is not within a 25 feet range.
• Do not back up in a straight line because you are more likely to trip and fall if you walk backward in a straight line.

Dos

• Talk in a monotone voice to allow the bear to identify you as a human. Remember, bears really don’t want confrontations unless they perceive you as a threat.
• Slowly back up and wave your arms to make yourself known. Once again, this allows them to identify you as a human.
• Always travel in groups. The noises a group makes will alert the bear and allow them to stay away from you.
• Make yourself look large.
• Hold your ground.
• Get your bear spray ready.

During an attack

• Curl into a ball and protect your head. Have your backpack face towards the bear to cushion the blow.
• You may also lay flat on your stomach and spread your legs out. Don’t let the bear flip you over and remember, your hands should be covering your head at all times.
• If you are still being attacked after you are in a defensive position for a while, this is when you are out of option, and you need to start fighting back. To fight back, you need to focus on delivering blows to their eyes, and nose. This will surely cause more damage than a body shot.