Bears

[toobfreak]

It got late last night and I wanted to go to bed, but somehow your video reminded me of this sad story.

I think I might have heard of that attack--- shades of Steve Irwin, whom I used to really like and enjoy. Problem is that these people get so used to being around these wild animals and just assume they will accept him because yesterday they didn't do anything, that they are somehow now part of nature, then over time, they get more and more used to being closer and closer to these animals and just keep pushing the issue until finally something bad happens.

What galls me is these two were LIVING around bears, seeking the bears out, hanging around their food, and didn't even have a can of bear spray much less maybe a .308 rifle. Those two were idiots just BEGGING for an incident like this, and I would say their dying was inevitable.

For starters, if you are even out where there is a possibility of wild animal attack from bear, cougar or the like, each person should be at least carrying a .45 ACP or even a .50ca Desert Eagle, then you should bring one rifle to be shared among the group, that way, if it gets heavy on one person, you can switch off to someone else while you give your shoulder a rest.

As you can see, had that guy been carrying a knife, any knife, it would not have saved him and probably only would have pissed the bear off more. He will kill you long before you kill him. Bear spray?

You can never know the mind of a wild animal and they can turn on you at any time. I bet in his last seconds being ripped apart and eaten that he finally realized why the park had rules for bear interaction.

I know a lot of people would criticize me, saying that a .308 is plenty of rifle to take into deep bear country whereas the .338 Lapua Magnum is really overkill for most normal game hunting, really intended for sniper shots from a mile away or for extreme long range game hunting of really big game, and the .338 is a very expensive caliber in comparison, but the Lapua remains my preferred "remover of all obstacles" in staying alive--- if it comes down to staying alive, one shot is all you will need to stop most any threat you might ever encounter in the wild unless you go big game hunting in Africa. About the only thing more powerful than the .338 in my book as a final step up is the .478 magnum, but that'll stop a charging elephant. The .338 will blow a big hole right through ANY bear (it'll stop a polar bear), but then, no one is looking to eat the bear, just be sure you kill it dead in its tracks before it gets you.

I like overkill. I do not believe in doing anything by half-measures. With a .338, one can tread most anywhere on this planet without fear of man nor beast--- even if it doesn't stop the beast on the first shot (unlikely), it will sure give him a bad day, definitely get his attention, and a whole lot to think about in charging you any further.

 

[toobfreak]

Oh and btw toobfreak, now I know what you meant about always bring a friend with you on a hike. Anytime, but especially in a place where bears live. I originally thought that you were talking about sacrificing your friend for your own life (or a family member) but if you bring somebody with you they could possibly help you escape.

Well, true, you never go out into the wilderness alone, far better having at least one friend with you, but yeah, was kinda kidding that so long as you can outrun at least one other person, you'll probably survive a bear attack.

 

[toobfreak]

Yes, far north of Ohio - mostly up in Canada.

Well, there isn't a whole lot of USA left north of Ohio, so, yeah, Canada.

Also, "black bears" are actually brown - at least they are in Colorado. Actual "brown bears" are grizzlies (a grizzly is a type of brown bear). I know because I was telling people I saw a brown bear - and they were like - "No, you didn't. You so a black bear that was brown."

Not sure who told you that. A black bear is a black bear and a Grizzly is a brown bear, the only brown bear you're apt to come across unless you go to Alaska.

3 Types of Bears in North America (Pictures) - Wildlife Informer

There are only 3 types of bears in North America. This article gives you details about how these bears differ from one another.

wildlifeinformer.com

Unless you are a true wilderness outdoorsman, for most people in the USA, they will only ever need worry about black bears, though you can find grizzles out west in some wild areas, and one is best advised to stay as far away from a Grizzly as possible.

 

[ChristisKing]

Well, there isn't a whole lot of USA left north of Ohio, so, yeah, Canada.


Not sure who told you that. A black bear is a black bear and a Grizzly is a brown bear, the only brown bear you're apt to come across unless you go to Alaska.

3 Types of Bears in North America (Pictures) - Wildlife Informer

There are only 3 types of bears in North America. This article gives you details about how these bears differ from one another.

wildlifeinformer.com

Unless you are a true wilderness outdoorsman, for most people in the USA, they will only ever need worry about black bears, though you can find grizzles out west in some wild areas, and one is best advised to stay as far away from a Grizzly as possible.

Wow Polar bears live in Alaska? I did not know that although that doesn't surprise me.

 

[Care4all]

Has anybody ever had any experience with them? I hike a lot, but thankfully I've never run into any of them. I heard mixed responses on what you're supposed to do if you ever run into a bear. One response is you're supposed to play dead. The other is you're supposed to raise your arms above your head to make yourself look bigger and make a lot of noise. So which is it? Or does either work?

I have a beautiful black bear that comes most every year in March when she or he wakes up.... to my bird feeder to get some black oil sunflower seeds.... One year she/he tried to get in to the plastic storage shed where we were keeping the seed bag, right outside my kitchen window....my hubby and I went out the kitchen door and yelled at it saying loud but nicely, WHAT ARE YOU DOING? And it turned its head towards us and smiled, it had the most beautiful black shiny hair and the sweetest kindest eyes, then ran from the shed towards the hanging bird feeder, grabbed the feeder as passing by and ran off in to the back yard woods. Then the next day we found the feeder about only 10 yards in to the woods, empty, laying on a deer trail.

 

[Concerned American]

A black bear is a black bear and a Grizzly is a brown bear, the only brown bear you're apt to come across unless you go to Alaska.

Not necessarily true toob. Black bears come in a variety of colors. I have personally been within 20-30 feet of black bears that have been black, brown and blonde in CA and there hasn't been a grizzly in CA in over 100 years.

The term "black bear" refers to the bear's color, but it is somewhat misleading. Black bears can actually come in various colors, including brown, cinnamon, blonde, and even white or blue-gray, depending on their geographic location.
bear.org huntriverside.com

 

[Leo123]

I live in the mountains with bears. They come on my property trying to raid my trash cans. They run away if they see you. Only one refused to leave but I chased it away with my quad. I use Ammonia in my trash and that seems to keep them at bay.

 

[Concerned American]

I live in the mountains with bears. They come on my property trying to raid my trash cans. They run away if they see you. Only one refused to leave but I chased it away with my quad. I use Ammonia in my trash and that seems to keep them at bay.

Yeah, ammonia plays hell with an animal's sniffer.