Earlier than setting off on a hike, you at all times plan the place you’re going, the timing, and what to take with you, proper? You must also plan forward the way to hike (or camp) safely round wildlife. Particularly bears. It would seem to be you’ll solely encounter bears should you go to Yellowstone, the Smoky Mountains, or Alaska. However bears occupy a a lot higher space. Do you know that black bears are present in 40 of the 50 states of the US?
Black bear and grizzly bear ranges are rising 12 months after 12 months, so earlier than touring to the wilderness, be sure you verify if it’s bear nation. Whether it is, learn on for our security tips about the way to hike in bear nation.
Don’t assume that as a result of it’s chilly, bears will probably be tucked away of their dens. Simply final month (in November) we had a household of 5 bears in our yard within the mountains of North Carolina. Additionally, grizzly bears would possibly come out of hibernation in early March in Yellowstone.
At all times carry bear spray and know the way to use it earlier than you set off in your journey. Bear spray just isn’t allowed on planes, so in case you are flying to your vacation spot you’ll want to purchase it within the space. REI carries them. Watch the video on the finish of this publish to discover ways to use a bear spray. *Don’t discharge the bear spray indoors*, be taught to make use of it open air.
NEVER EVER give meals to a bear, method it, attempt to get a selfie with a bear, or attempt to pet it. If you’re in a nationwide park and see somebody doing this, take a photograph (attempt to embody the license plate quantity) and report them on the workplace. A fed bear is a lifeless bear.
Climbing in bear nation
- When you see a bear earlier than it notices you: stand nonetheless, don’t method, and benefit from the second. If it’s transferring in your course, be sure he is aware of you might be there and announce your self with a loud and grave “Hey Bear”. The bear will most certainly flip round. When you don’t announce your presence you would possibly startle the bear when it’s too shut and it would react violently. (I imply, should you startle me I’d scream so it’s comprehensible to have a response.) As soon as the bear is transferring away, transfer away quietly in the other way. We had an encounter with a mom grizzly and her cub in British Columbia and we did this. You possibly can learn the story right here.
- When you encounter a bear that’s conscious of you: don’t run; operating might set off a chase response. Again away slowly in the other way and anticipate the bear to go away.
- Pay attention to your environment, attempt to make noise periodically, and don’t use earbuds.
- Don’t hike alone.
- Hold children nearby.
- Make noise in thick cowl.
- Be further conscious when foraging for berries or nuts. Bears are doing the identical!
- At all times KEEP YOUR PETS ON A LEASH or depart them at dwelling. Canine might harass bears and trigger them stress, and in return, a bear might assault your canine.
- Don’t litter. Pack out your trash. Getting bears habituated to human meals sources makes them extra more likely to have harmful encounters with people.
- Don’t get between a mom and her cub. If a mom thinks her cub is at risk, she is going to defend it. When you see a cub, at all times search for mother and remember.
Tenting in bear nation
- Arrange backcountry camps away from dense cowl and pure meals sources.
- Hold your camp clear. Don’t depart meals sitting round, and at all times lock it up (within the automotive, or in a bear-resistant container) should you exit for a hike.
- Don’t maintain something that smells like meals or toiletries in your tent. No snacks, no toothpaste, no deodorant, no sodas, no lip balm, no sunscreen, no bug spray.
- When you camp along with your pet and have to maintain a litter tray within the tent, use unscented litter and maintain it clear. No pet treats both.
- If automotive tenting, maintain meals and toiletries inside a locked car and ensure all of the home windows are closed. Bears have realized the way to open unlocked automobiles and the way to bust opened home windows.
- If backpacking, maintain meals and toiletries suspended no less than 10 ft above the bottom and 10 ft from any a part of the tree. Some parks have already got a system in place (see purple arrow within the picture under from a backcountry campsite in Yellowstone). This regulation would possibly differ from nationwide park to nationwide park so at all times verify for laws on the park’s entrance.
Cooking in bear nation
- When cooking don’t dump meals waste in your hearth (or exterior the hearth for that matter). No bean sauce, or meat fats, or anything.
- Cook dinner away out of your tent so that you don’t entice bears to your sleeping space. Many areas advocate a “bear-muda triangle” method, along with your tent on the first nook (ideally upwind), your meals storage at one other nook, and your cook dinner space on the third, separated by 100 yards. A variation places your wash-up space at yet one more distant level.
- Put all of the trash in a bag inside a bear-proof storage locker or trash can that almost all campgrounds present. If none is on the market, put the trash inside your locked automotive. If you’re on a backpacking journey, spend money on a bear-resistant meals container.
Keep in mind to hold your bear spray inside attain, don’t pack it within the backside of your backpack.
WATCH THIS VIDEO AND LEARN HOW TO USE YOUR BEAR SPRAY
Bears will not be out to get you
Keep in mind, bears will not be out to get you. They’re simply going about their lives such as you and me. And such as you, they’d somewhat not get right into a battle. If we be taught to respect bears somewhat than concern them, and take just a few widespread sense precautions, we are able to all dwell collectively fortunately.
