“Woman injured by bison in Yellowstone National Park flown to hospital “

[billingsgazette.com]


“ Mystic Lake camper in Gallatin County bitten by bear Saturday “

[billingsgazette.com]


And in another ecosystem, far far away:

“ Teen sleeping in hammock at 12:30 a.m attacked by large bear in Great Smoky Mountains “

[www.star-telegram.com]


This one is scary. I used to sleep under the stars a lot, until a bear in camp reminded me how exposed it feels to be lying on the ground in a mummy bag. Now I prefer the false sense of security offered by a thin layer of fabric.

I'll wait to see what all the details are before passing judgement. All too often, people do stupid things that result in attacks.

The young woman in the hammock appears to be unprovoked. Food was reportedly being properly stored but there may be some details that were left out that attracted the bears.

Unfortunately, problem bears have often been conditioned by previous experiences.

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btfc
Now I prefer the false sense of security offered by a thin layer of fabric.

I've lived by that statement for years.
My backpacking buddy made fun of me for years, until he didn't. Now he just tells me to shut up as he puts the fly on his tent.

I’ve been to the Smokies many times. It’s one of my favorite memories as a child.

We used to put food in whatever container or ice chest we had, until the bears tore up the containers and ice chests. Then we put it in our cars, until the bears started tearing up the cars to get to the food. Today, we now elevate it above the reach of the bears. Bears used to forage in the woods, then trash cans, and vehicles, and now associate hanging objects as potential food. Unfortunately that would include anyone sleeping in a hammock, which would be in easy reach of the bear. Backpacks are being stolen by the bears as well, and I don’t think they want the gear.

Like any living creature, the bears learn and adapt.

And no, I’m not saying nor even implying that the teen deserved the attack, as she clearly did not. Perhaps it’s time to reconsider how to handle bears while camping/hiking.

Quote
Diana
We used to put food in whatever container or ice chest we had, until the bears tore up the containers and ice chests. Then we put it in our cars, until the bears started tearing up the cars to get to the food. Today, we now elevate it above the reach of the bears. Bears used to forage in the woods, then trash cans, and vehicles, and now associate hanging objects as potential food. Unfortunately that would include anyone sleeping in a hammock, which would be in easy reach of the bear……

Like any living creature, the bears learn and adapt.

Fascinating

bear {noun}
A large, heavy, mammal that walks on the soles of its feet, with thick fur and a very short tail.
Bears are related to the dog family but most species are omnivorous. (Family Ursidae)

It's a wild animal but some people never learn...

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Enter the food chain, you run the risk of being prey. I do agree that predators are more comfortable around humans as we continue to expand in population.

I have 50 year old memories of hearing the SNIFF and grumble from bears outside our tent in the Rockies. That instinctive prey reaction jump starts your heart rate to the moon as your fight or flight kicks in, and you wait to see what happens next. After I woke Dad, of course. But the bear didn't like that human smell and muffled squeaking sounds from the young human, and left. Nowadays ? Breakfast !

Bears are omnivores with no compunction about eating protein when it’s available. I classify the ones on this continent, no matter the species, as a “top” predator and treat them accordingly. Much like the mountain lion, which is making a comeback. Or in the west where the wolf has been introduced. There is a reason the wolf and the big cat leave the bear alone.

And no, I wasn’t trying to be sarcastic either in this post or the one above.

This one is kind of funny. Raccoon looks aggressive. I would have backed off sooner. (I would hope!)

[old.reddit.com]

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Quote
MrNoBody
bear {noun}
A large, heavy, mammal that walks on the soles of its feet, with thick fur and a very short tail.
Bears are related to the dog family but most species are omnivorous. (Family Ursidae)

It's a wild animal but some people never learn...

Was not the first thing to come to my mind.

“ There is a reason the wolf and the big cat leave the bear alone. “

Wolves, usually.


[m.youtube.com]

[m.youtube.com]


Wolves with pups and/or with a den site nearby are much more confrontational. A sow with young cubs doesn’t want them anywhere near wolves.

When I worked in Denali N.P., I was told of an incident where a sow with yearling cubs approached a den site to scavenge old wolf kills. Most of the pack was out and about; when other members of the pack had gathered, they went after the bears and cornered them in a culvert. Both cubs were killed and the sow was seriously injured.



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 06/22/2021 06:15PM by btfc.

Bear bagging your food (hanging it from a tree limb) is no longer the accepted practice in the Sierras. You are supposed to carry a special container of heavy rubber (that adds about 3 pounds to your load by itself) because the bears cannot get them open.

Quote
Ca Bob
Bear bagging your food (hanging it from a tree limb) is no longer the accepted practice in the Sierras. You are supposed to carry a special container of heavy rubber (that adds about 3 pounds to your load by itself) because the bears cannot get them open.

It is possible to hang food with a rope correctly, but most don't bother to learn how it's done. Bear canisters are required in Yosemite, Kings Canyon and Sequoia NPs, but otherwise are not req'd (but are rec'd) in other areas.

The 'PCT technique' WORKS and is foolproof (and bear proof)

here is a video - [www.youtube.com]

it also shows 'alternatives', but smart bears (ie, Yosemite bears) know that cutting the cord tied off to a tree is how you get the goodies, but the PCT method can't be beaten by a bear.

I'm old school - I refuse to carry a bear can unless req'd by law. I've NEVER lost food in the wild when I hang my food. Not once.

I like the PCT or two tree method. With some of the new, thinner cordage that's available, it's not as visible especially at night.

A food hanging tip: choose your tree/branch when you arrive at your camp; trying to find a good spot can be much harder in the dark.

Quote
macphanatic
I'll wait to see what all the details are before passing judgement. All too often, people do stupid things that result in attacks.

The young woman in the hammock appears to be unprovoked. Food was reportedly being properly stored but there may be some details that were left out that attracted the bears.

We got a stern but VERY friendly and heartfelt schoolin' by a great ranger in Grand Tetons a few years ago. Our food was stored properly, but our old school Coleman camp stove was tucked under the picnic table. He said it would have spilled food or grease on it that would cause Yogi and Boo Boo to really give our campsite a thorough ransacking looking for the picnic basket.

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[www.youtube.com]

Yes in grizzly country you should secure anything that a bear might possibly construe as food; things like toothpaste and chapstick often get overlooked. Dishes and pans. Things like beer bottles, and possibly the clothes that you cooked or fished in shouldn’t be overlooked.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 06/22/2021 10:25PM by btfc.

Glad my version of camping involves either an Airstream or a small building at night. Worrying about bears doesn’t seem worth the bother. Happy to let them do their thing without me being involved.

But we did start locking the minivan at my folks’ house a few years ago after a bear climbed in and found catchup packets. I’m not convinced they could smell closed containers of catchup packets inside a closed vehicle, however a vehicle door with a handle is gonna be a curiosity for sure.

I’ve backpacked, camped, and guided trips in grizzly country for over forty years and never had a serious bear incident.

But keep a clean camp, secure attractants, and practice situational awareness. I’ve never used bear spray on a bear.

I saw some eye opening footage several years ago of black bears at one of the major climbing parking lots in Yosemite; the bears focused their attention on minivans and ripped off the sliding doors with relative ease.

This got my attention as I had a minivan at the time.

“ I have 50 year old memories of hearing the SNIFF and grumble from bears outside our tent in the Rockies. “

Sleeping in the minivan in a remote campsite on the south edge of Yellowstone when I was suddenly wide awake.
A grizzly was bumping the van as it investigated my camp. I watched it for a little while in the moonlight.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 06/23/2021 11:02PM by btfc.

I was tent camping at Taquamanon Falls in Upper Michigan. At a meeting of campers the rangers told us that the large canister on wheels in the campground was attempting to catch a black bear that was frequenting the campground. Pack up correctly before going to bed!

After we went to bed, I was awakened by shouting at one end of the campground and then I noticed a rumbling sound just outside my tent. Since some folks near to our site had had popcorn, I figure that maybe the bear was nearby.

VERY SLOWLY lifted the zipper of the doorway and peered out. Increased the view a little at at time until I put my head out the doorway. All was clear and discovered that the rumbling sound was not a snorting bear but a snoring neighbor.

That trip was memorable not only by the bear story but by the heaviest rain I ever encountered while camping. Gear was so wet I think we might have cut our trip short and headed home.