Bears are 70-80% herbivores. People are not hunted. They come out to people out of curiosity and in search of food. Not to eat a person, but to find something tasty that the person himself eats. A bear attacks to protect itself, its cubs or the territory in which it lives. Very, very rarely, a bear attacks a person in order to eat him. Hunting a person is a rare occurrence.
How to protect your camp from bears
Do not store food near residential tents. Place a trash pit away from camp and periodically burn food scraps. Place an electric fence around the camp (I bought one in Kamchatka for a field camp).
If a bear comes into camp, scare it by shooting into the air. You can use anything that makes loud, sharp sounds: weapons, flares, hunter’s signals. On repeated visits, take extreme measures, shoot.
How to prevent meeting a bear on your route
Do not travel alone, only in groups of 2 or more people. Talk while moving so that the bear senses the presence of a person and avoids meeting you. Don’t use bells, they are not effective. Be especially careful in bushes, tall grass and near rivers, where there is also increased vegetation. Don’t listen to music on headphones.
Avoid and bypass areas where you find dead animals or rotten fish, smell decomposition, or see scavenger birds. (crows). There is a high probability that there are bears somewhere nearby that feed on carrion and protect it.
Do not leave and take leftover food with you. Burn food. Keep your dog on a leash. An untrained dog, instead of scaring off the bear, will lead it to you. Notice the signs that bears leave. Scuff marks on trees (claw marks), marks on the ground, bear droppings (very large piles).
We met a bear
If the bear has not seen you, then carefully and slowly walk back and walk around him at a distance. If the bear notices you, start talking to identify yourself as a person. Be calm and confident so that the bear understands that you are not putting him in danger.
Keep pepper spray (bear spray) handy. Slowly start to step back, don’t run. Running may cause the bear to run after you. Bears run faster than humans. Don’t climb a tree, the bear can climb trees.
The bear is coming at you
Determine if he wants to protect himself or if he is hunting you. This is important because further actions depend on it. This is, of course, a controversial point. But if you believe the statistics, then most likely he will defend.
Defensive attack
Signs. The bear makes sounds: bubbling, growling or roaring. Continue speaking calmly and back away. When approaching, spray pepper spray in his face.
He was not afraid and continued to approach. Play dead. Lie on the ground on your stomach to cover your vital organs, placing your hands behind your neck. The bear will understand that you are not dangerous and will leave.
Hunting where man is the prey
Signs. The bear walks towards you calmly, confidently and does not make any sounds. Scream loudly, make sharp sounds. When attacked, fight for your life.
What protection to use
Bear spray prevents 92% of attacks. You still need to know how to use a firearm in order to kill an animal, and not wound it and make it even more dangerous. And don’t hurt yourself or others. Keep pepper spray on hand. On the belt. Practice before use.
You can check yourself in my tg channel, where she published a safety test when meeting a bear. Have good and safe fields for us.
Photo by Alexander Stupin, materials for the notes taken from the WildSafeBC Wildlife Awareness and Safety course by BC Conservation Foundation
